CJP plans Kerala expansion, campus outreach amid SIR protest campaign

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is looking to widen its presence in Kerala while pressing ahead with a nationwide campaign seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Speaking to the media in Kochi on Sunday, ahead of a gathering of the movement's supporters, CJP national media lead Vijay Reddy Mallangi said the party had received registrations from close to 20,000 people in the State — the highest from any State in the country. He said the number of Kerala residents signing up on the party's website was on par with the figures from Maharashtra.

Mr. Mallangi said State team members would run an extensive outreach programme, urging people to actively join protests in Mumbai and elsewhere in the country. The movement also plans to step up activity on campuses, with its four zonal coordinators reaching out to students and exploring the setting up of membership desks at universities.

The CJP will take up issues specific to Kerala as well, including the alleged delay in the disbursal of e-grants to Dalit and Adivasi students, he said. It would reach out to student organisations across political affiliations to coordinate its campaign and would continue to raise issues concerning the State.

Mr. Mallangi called on the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) to set aside their political differences and unite on the matter concerning the Election Commission.

The party has put forward three demands as part of its campaign for electoral reforms: the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, an independent inquiry into all matters related to the SIR, and the repeal of the 2023 law governing the appointment of Election Commissioners. Its nationwide protest is scheduled to begin in Mumbai on October 2, 2026, before being extended to other parts of the country.

Later in the day, addressing a meet attended by nearly 150 supporters on Marine Drive, Mr. Mallangi said the CJP's ideology was centred on protecting the fundamental principles laid out in the Constitution. Questioning the BJP for defending the Chief Election Commissioner when the CJP raised allegations against him, he alleged that it was clear the ruling party was controlling the officer. He also cited former Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson's revelation that Mr. Kumar had suggested he contest the Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket as further evidence of an unholy nexus between the officer and the party.

CJP national coordinators from Kerala — Firoz Khan, Nidhin Noble, Sanoop Dev and Isha Mariyam Harris — and representatives of Azadi and the Students and Youth Collective, two groups of young activists supporting the CJP, spoke at the meet. People from different age groups attended the gathering, described as the CJP's first official meeting in the State.