‘Shivaji Park, Shivaji Park’: Abhijeet Dipke takes auto-driver disguise to drum up CJP protest

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke traded his usual political-stage persona for an autorickshaw driver's seat on Friday, using a Mumbai station as an unlikely campaign stop to drum up support for the outfit's protest demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.

Sitting behind the wheel at Bandra station, Dipke called out loudly, "Shivaji Park, Shivaji Park", urging commuters and onlookers to head to the Dadar ground for the CJP's 'Jail Bharo Andolan' scheduled for 4 pm. The impromptu performance drew curious crowds, with some recognising Dipke and stopping to shake his hand.

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The theatrical pitch came hours before thousands of CJP supporters gathered at Shivaji Park despite Mumbai Police denying permission for the protest. Protesters carrying the Tricolour and placards reached the ground, while police and security personnel were deployed heavily around Shivaji Park and Dadar station. Major entry points to the ground were barricaded.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had extended support to the agitation, while some residents of the Shivaji Park area opposed holding the demonstration in their neighbourhood. Police said they were monitoring the situation to maintain law and order and prevent disruption to traffic.

From Gandhi tribute to auto-rickshaw pitch

Dipke had begun the day by paying floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi's statue in south Mumbai on Gandhi Jayanti before turning his attention to mobilising supporters for the afternoon protest.

The CJP's campaign centres on its demand for Kumar's resignation and greater transparency in the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner. The party has also demanded that the 2025 voter list be frozen, arguing that it should not be "tampered with further".

The agitation followed an Indian Express report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months to decisions and orders linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The report said some of the decisions were issued without their knowledge.

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The Election Commission, however, has said the three-member commission took all decisions, including those concerning the SIR, unanimously.

The CJP had earlier announced that Mumbai would be the starting point of its wider campaign, with Dipke subsequently indicating plans to take the agitation to other cities including Goa, Bengaluru and Kolkata.

At Shivaji Park, veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah was among those present at the protest venue. The gathering unfolded under a substantial security presence in an area with a long political association with the Shiv Sena and MNS.