Police intervene after counter-slogans are raised at Shivaji Park during demonstration seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation
Mumbai, Oct 2026 : A brief spell of tension was reported at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park in Dadar on Friday after a group of unidentified individuals wearing saffron mufflers entered a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and raised “Jai Shri Ram” slogans.
The situation created a temporary standoff between the group and protesters, but no major clash was reported. Mumbai Police personnel deployed at the venue intervened promptly, cordoned off the group and escorted them away from the main gathering, helping restore order.
The CJP demonstration was organised to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over issues related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The protest was part of the organisation’s wider campaign under the slogan “Gyanu Its Done Bro”.
The gathering drew a large number of young participants as well as several prominent personalities. Reports said thousands of people attended the demonstration at Shivaji Park, despite police denying permission for the protest.
The protesters raised demands including the resignation of Kumar, greater scrutiny of the SIR process and changes to the legal framework governing the Election Commission. The CJP has also called for greater transparency in the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and sought a freeze on the 2025 electoral roll.
The demonstration gained attention amid a broader controversy surrounding the functioning of the Election Commission and reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections over certain decisions and orders connected with the SIR exercise. The Election Commission has maintained that decisions of the three-member body, including those related to SIR, were taken unanimously.
Against this backdrop, the arrival of the saffron-muffler group and the chanting of religious slogans briefly altered the atmosphere at the venue. The political or organisational affiliations of the individuals involved in raising the counter-slogans were not immediately confirmed.
Police personnel moved quickly to prevent the groups from coming into direct confrontation. The slogan-chanting group was separated from the main gathering and escorted away, preventing the situation from escalating into a physical confrontation.
The police response also helped ensure that the larger demonstration continued without a major disruption. The Times of India reported that the gathering remained largely peaceful, with security personnel managing the crowd and maintaining order around the venue.
The Shivaji Park protest was the latest phase of the CJP’s campaign against the Election Commission and its handling of electoral-roll revisions. The organisation had previously held a demonstration at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and announced plans for further protests in other cities.
The Mumbai event also attracted participation from figures from the film and music industry. Actors Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, among others, were present at the protest, while composer-singer Vishal Dadlani also addressed or participated in the gathering.
While the brief confrontation over the counter-slogans added tension to the proceedings, the intervention by the Mumbai Police ensured that the situation remained under control and the demonstration did not descend into violence.
