Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, told reporters on Thursday that the group will stage its October 2 protest at Shivaji Park, Mumbai. Their aim? Forcing CEC Gyanesh Kumar to resign.
The party has framed the protest as a challenge to the Election Commission's conduct in the upcoming general elections. Dipke said the move follows months of criticism over alleged delays and irregularities in voter roll updates.
Local residents and municipal officials claimed they opposed the rally, but Dipke denied any opposition. He insisted Shivaji Park remains a public space where political expression is protected. He compared the situation to the silent zones used by the Chief Minister for rallies.
Police are expected to issue clearance before the protest, and the city administration has warned of possible clashes if the crowd exceeds 5,000. Opposition parties have urged the government to ensure a peaceful assembly.