Indian Youth Congress and Cockroach movement protest CEC

The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) initiated protests in New Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Demonstrators, led by IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib, accused the Election Commission of erroneously removing living citizens from voter lists. During the demonstration, protesters wore masks of Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi while attempting to march toward Jantar Mantar, but were stopped by police.

Following the police intervention, the IYC filed a petition in the Delhi High Court to challenge the Delhi Police’s decision to deny permission for the demonstration. As tensions escalated, authorities detained Abhijit Dipke, founder of the youth movement ‘Cockroach’ (CJP), along with leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka at the airport. This movement is also demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, with protesters alleging that recent voter list revisions removed approximately 130 million voters to favor the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Political tensions have since intensified as parties clash over the legitimacy of these movements. BJP MLC Praveen Kumar accused the Congress party and the CJP of attempting to ‘spread anarchy,’ claiming the movements are driven by ideologies fearful of Prime Minister Modi’s leadership. In contrast, Congress leaders, including State President Shubhankar Sarkar, have criticized the government and the Election Commission, alleging ‘vote theft’ and irregularities in recent by-elections while condemning the arrests of protesters as attempts to suppress voices against injustice.