Thousands protest in India’s Bengaluru as ‘Cockroach’ movement demands election chief resign
Protesters said the voter roll revision removed over 130 million names and could disenfranchise millions more voters.
- Thousands of supporters gathered at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Thursday, led by Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, and actor-activist Prakash Raj, demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged electoral roll irregularities.
- The Special Intensive Revision process removed over 130 million names from electoral rolls, a figure exceeding populations of Japan and Mexico, after Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded 14 objections over 10 months.
- Maharashtra Police served notices to volunteers questioning their travel funding to Delhi, which Dipke alleged was "dictatorship," while officials maintain notices are routine preventive measures ahead of the October 10 agitation.
- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was briefly detained by police on Wednesday while attempting to reach a protest site in New Delhi, an action that intensified opposition mobilization and added momentum to calls for Kumar's removal.
- CJP leaders submitted formal intimation to Delhi Police for a major gathering at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, October 10, vowing the youth-led movement will continue mobilization despite police warnings and threats of legal action.
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Thousands protest in India’s Bengaluru as ‘Cockroach’ movement demands election chief resign
BENGALURU, India (AP) — Thousands of supporters of India’s youth “Cockroach” movement and several student groups demonstrated in the southern city of Bengaluru on Thursday, stepping up a nationwide campaign that is demanding the election chief’s resignation over a revision of voter lists that has removed over 130 million people from the rolls. The demonstration...
Thousands Protest in Bengaluru as 'Cockroach' Movement Demands Election Chief Resign Over Voter Roll Cuts
BENGALURU, India: Thousands of supporters of India’s youth "Cockroach” movement and several student groups demonstrated in the southern city of Bengaluru on Thursday, stepping up a nationwide campaign that is demanding the election chief’s resignation over a contentious revision of voter lists that has removed over 130 million people from the rolls.The demonstration in Bengaluru came a day after opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was briefly detaine…
Prakash Raj, Dhruv Rathee join Abhijeet Dipke at Bengaluru protest over SIR
Prakash Raj and Dhruv Rathee joined a Bengaluru protest demanding the Chief Election Commissioner resign over alleged electoral roll irregularities, claiming citizens were wrongfully stripped of their democratic right to vote.
Thousands protest in India's Bengaluru as 'Cockroach' m
Indian influencer and activist Dhruv Rathee, second left, Indian actor Prakash Raj, fourth left, Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke, fifth left and other supporters join hands during a protest demanding the resignation of the country's election chief Gyanesh Kumar, in Bengaluru, India, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Associated Press News
Thousands protest in India's Bengaluru as 'Cockroach' movement demands election chief resign
Thousands of supporters of India’s youth “Cockroach” movement and student groups are protesting in southern Bengaluru city.
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