Youth Groups Persist in Protests Demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's Resignation
Protesters vow to continue demonstrations until their demands are met, including the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Youth organizations are protesting against CEC Gyanesh Kumar's leadership.
Several key organizers were detained prior to the planned demonstration.
Protesters claim government actions reflect a fear of youth activism.
On October 10, 2026, leaders from various youth and student organizations declared their intention to persist with protests until their demands are fulfilled, notably the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the rollback of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) policy. This announcement came despite the preemptive detention of several prominent organizers ahead of a scheduled demonstration by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in New Delhi.
Ajinkya Shinde, the national organization in-charge of the CJP, emphasized the determination of the protesters during a press conference with representatives from the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and All India Students’ Federation (AISF). He stated, "We will come back tomorrow and walk towards Jantar Mantar again," highlighting the resolve to continue their fight for their rights.
The protest faced significant challenges as CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and co-convenors Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were detained upon their arrival at Delhi airport. Following their detention, SFI’s Aishe Ghosh and AISA’s Neha Bora, along with other Left front members, were also taken into custody. Shinde criticized the government's actions, asserting that these detentions reveal a fascist approach and a fear of youth mobilization, particularly after the protests in July.
Shinde was appointed to lead the protests in the absence of the detained leaders. In a video message, Dipke urged supporters to follow Shinde in their ongoing fight, despite being unable to communicate with his lawyer or family due to police restrictions. The CJP reported that the detained leaders were taken to various undisclosed locations within the Delhi-NCR area.
The protests are not only a demand for the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar but also a broader assertion of democratic rights, including voting rights. SFI general secretary Srijan Bhattacharya remarked on the unprecedented nature of the allegations against the Election Commission of India, emphasizing the importance of their struggle. The youth groups plan to continue their demonstrations, asserting that they will not relent until their demands are met.
