Cockroach Janta Party Backs INDIA Bloc’s November 1 Rally

India’s Cockroach Janta Party announced on October 28 that it would support the INDIA bloc’s November 1 rally. Founder Abhijeet Dipke published the endorsement and an accompanying statement on his account, renewing the group’s demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign. The party’s statement said democracy depended on citizens being able to select their representatives. It argued that “people get to choose their government, not that the government gets to choose its voters.” The group alleged that the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls raised concerns about eligible voters being removed, and said those concerns had weakened confidence in free and fair elections. CJP argued that Kumar’s resignation was necessary to restore the Election Commission’s credibility and independence. In its account, the commission’s responsibility was to safeguard eligible citizens’ voting rights and ensure that the electoral process did not put obstacles in the way of exercising them. These criticisms and allegations were the party’s position. Invoking B. R. Ambedkar, the statement called for equal political participation regardless of caste, religion, gender, education or economic circumstances. It said the party would support groups campaigning for free and fair elections. The endorsement identifies the November 1 rally as the forthcoming action it is backing, without specifying a venue or saying whether its leaders will appear on stage.