04 October,2026 08:49 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pravin Darekar. File Pic
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pravin Darekar has described the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest at Mumbai's Shivaji Park as a "complete failure", claiming that the demonstration did not receive significant public support.
The CJP held the protest on October 2 against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The demonstration was part of a wider campaign by the youth-led group seeking changes in the functioning of the Election Commission and demanding Kumar's resignation. Reuters reported that hundreds of people participated in the Mumbai protest.
Speaking to ANI, Darekar claimed that the demonstration failed to draw support from Mumbai residents and alleged that major opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), were not represented at the protest.
"The people of Mumbai did not respond. Go and see the numbers; both roads were empty. There were neither UBT leaders nor MNS leaders. The rest were sponsored people against the BJP, which is the ruling party in the state, and then there were people with a leftist ideology. This protest completely failed. There was no response," Darekar said.
Darekar's comments were his assessment of the size and political significance of the demonstration. Reports from the day, however, described hundreds of protesters gathering at Shivaji Park.
Darekar also said he was grateful to Mumbai residents for not supporting the agitation.
"I thank the people of Mumbai. This is the soil of Mumbai, the land of Maharashtra. This is the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. A rebellious tendency cannot survive here. That is why the people of Mumbai took the initiative to uproot this tendency," the BJP leader added.
His remarks came a day after the CJP protest, which proceeded despite police denying permission for the gathering. Police had cited restrictions on public assemblies and concerns over law and order and traffic in the area.
Mumbai Police have registered an FIR at Shivaji Park police station against the protest organisers and 400 to 500 unidentified supporters and agitators.
The case was registered under Sections 189 and 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 37(1)(3) and 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act. The provisions relate to unlawful assembly, disobedience of an order issued by a public servant and other offences.
Police said the FIR followed a complaint by a local resident. No arrests had been made in the case as of the latest reports, and the investigation was continuing.
The CJP had announced its October 2 "Jail Bharo Andolan" at Shivaji Park to protest against the Election Commission and demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Mumbai Police had denied permission for the gathering, while the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had also said the organisers did not have permission to use the civic ground.
Despite the restrictions, the protest went ahead. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and other members addressed participants during the demonstration. The group alleged that the SIR exercise had resulted in irregularities in electoral rolls and raised broader concerns about the electoral process.
(With inputs from ANI)
