The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday, October 10, criticised the proposed Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest in New Delhi, claiming that the demonstrators’ attempt to disrupt normal life in the national capital had failed. BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra described the demonstration as a “flop show” and argued that the situation in the country remained peaceful. His remarks came amid heightened security arrangements across Delhi ahead of the planned gathering at Jantar Mantar, where protesters intended to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Addressing a press conference, Patra alleged that certain groups had attempted to create disorder in the capital and disrupt public life. He claimed that the protests did not represent the broader mood of the country, asserting that India was continuing to progress under the current governance. Patra also described the developments as a contest between democracy and mob rule, arguing that the authorities had maintained control of the situation despite the planned demonstration.

The BJP leader’s remarks came as police detained several CJP members and other individuals ahead of the protest. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and party spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained after arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. Social media influencer Dhruv Rathee was also detained at his residence in Gurugram, according to reports. The detentions took place amid extensive security deployments and restrictions imposed across parts of the national capital.

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The CJP had planned the demonstration to raise allegations of irregularities in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The party demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, claiming that the revision process had raised concerns about voter deletions and the integrity of electoral lists. These allegations have become part of a wider political dispute, with opposition leaders seeking greater accountability from the poll body. The Election Commission’s role in managing electoral rolls has drawn increased scrutiny amid the controversy.

Patra also criticised opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing them of contributing to political unrest. He alleged that the demonstration was intended to create instability, although these claims reflected the BJP’s position on the protests. Opposition parties, meanwhile, have maintained that their demands concern electoral transparency and accountability. The competing positions have intensified political tensions surrounding the Election Commission and the handling of voter-list revisions.

The developments came after several days of protests and demonstrations in Delhi over demands for action against the Chief Election Commissioner. Police had imposed extensive security measures, restricted access to certain areas and detained people heading towards the planned gathering. While the BJP maintained that the protest had failed to disrupt the country’s functioning, the opposition’s demands over electoral-roll revisions remained unresolved. The episode has renewed debate over the right to peaceful assembly, election administration and the handling of political demonstrations in the national capital.

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