Dipke Says CJP Protest Seeks CEC’s Removal, Not Regime Change

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has sought to separate his organisation’s agitation against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar from the wider “regime change” narrative. He insisted the protest is aimed solely at securing the CEC’s removal and has nothing to do with unseating the government.

Demand for an Independent Appointment

Speaking at a late-night press conference in New Delhi, Dipke said the CJP is not asking for a change of government. He accused the Chief Election Commissioner of rigging elections, ignoring his fellow Election Commissioners and disregarding the Supreme Court. The party’s demand, he said, is that Kumar be removed and a new Election Commissioner be appointed through an independent and unbiased process.

Bhushan’s Remark Draws BJP Attack

Dipke’s clarification came hours after senior advocate Prashant Bhushan described the agitation against Kumar as a “fight for regime change”. The comment gave the BJP an opening, and the party intensified its attack on the Opposition and the protest movement. Dipke has since distanced his organisation from Bhushan and Neha Bora, according to The Tribune India.

Police Presence Ahead of Tiranga March

The clarification also comes amid heightened tension around the CJP’s street plans. The Tribune India reported that Delhi Police personnel arrived at Dipke’s house ahead of the group’s Tiranga March and asked him to call off the protest. A related report said he was placed under house arrest before the “Lehra Do Tiranga March”.

As the row unfolds, the CJP appears keen to keep its campaign narrowly focused on the conduct and leadership of the Election Commission, while political rivals contest what the movement really stands for.