CJP Pune Protests Outside Collector's Office, Demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar's Resignation

Approximately 250 protesters associated with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) Pune staged a 'Lehra Do Tiranga' protest on Saturday evening outside the Pune District Collector's Office, near the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar statue. The demonstration, which ran from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm, called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and raised concerns over the functioning of democratic institutions.

Participants carried national flags and displayed placards criticising the CEC and demanding greater accountability from the Election Commission. A large whiteboard covered with colourful sticky notes allowed demonstrators to write their grievances, slogans and demands, including calls to remove Gyanesh Kumar from office and criticism of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Protester Rahul Shinde stated that the CEC should step down if citizens have lost confidence in the institution, emphasising the need for accountability. Other participants expressed concerns that the right to vote—a fundamental democratic right—was being undermined by the Election Commission's actions.