Opposition Backs CJP’s Kochi Protest Against SIR, Demands Accountability from Election Commission

Congress leader Udit Raj welcomed the demonstration, arguing that the Election Commission must be held accountable for the preparation and revision of electoral rolls.

“The protest is welcome. As much pressure as possible needs to be put on the Election Commission. It is not as if there is a Congress government there, so nothing can go wrong. Preparing the electoral rolls is the Election Commission’s responsibility,” Raj said.

NCP(SP) national spokesperson Clyde Crasto also defended the demonstration, questioning the reported removal of names from voter lists and calling for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign.

“Thirteen crore names removed from the voter lists belong to people across the country, from different states and regions. Therefore, if CJP is protesting against this, it is a legitimate protest, and they can hold it anywhere. Why were 13 crore names removed? Gyanesh Kumar should resign,” Crasto said.

Shaina NC Accuses CJP of Political Theatrics

Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC, however, criticised the protest, accusing the organisation of focusing on political demonstrations rather than presenting a concrete agenda for young people.

Referring to CJP’s earlier demonstration at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, she said the group had now taken its protest to Kochi without offering a clear vision or plan for the country’s youth.

“CJP is once again staging a drama. Earlier, they were at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, and now they have reached Kochi. They are welcome, but it would be better if they explained their vision and plan,” she said.

Shaina added that young people were looking for practical proposals on employment and economic self-reliance rather than what she described as performative activism.

CJP Organises Protest at Rajendra Maidan

The CJP is scheduled to hold its protest march at Rajendra Maidan in Kochi from 4 p.m. on Saturday. The demonstration, titled Jantar Mantar at Kochi, is aimed at demanding the withdrawal of the SIR exercise.

According to the organisation’s announcement on X, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and actor-activist Prakash Raj are among those expected to participate. National leader Afreen Nawaz and South India in-charge Vijay Reddy Mallangi are also scheduled to join the demonstration.

The Kochi march marks CJP’s first major protest since some of its leaders were arrested in Delhi last month while attempting to organise a demonstration at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the electoral roll revision exercise.