CJP seeks to expand base in Keralam

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The first official public meeting of the Cockroach Janta Party in Keralam held on Marine Drive, Kochi, on Sunday. | Photo Credit: H. VIBHU

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is keen to expand its base in Keralam even as it has stepped up its nationwide campaign for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for the alleged irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The party on Sunday (September 27, 2026) announced its plans to reach out to students and mobilise support for its protests.

The party has received registrations from nearly 20,000 people in the State, the highest from any State in the country, said CJP national media lead Vijay Reddy Mallangi. He was addressing the media in Kochi ahead of a gathering of the movements’ supporters in the city.

Mr. Mallangi said the number of people extended support to the CJP by signing up on its website from Keralam was on par with the figures from Maharashtra.

“Our State team members will also do an extensive outreach programme, asking them to actively join the protests in Mumbai and elsewhere in the country. This is our responsibility,” he said.

He said the movement was planning to intensify its activities on campuses in the State, with its four zonal coordinators reaching out to students and exploring the setting up of membership desks at universities. The CJP would also take up issues specific to Keralam, including the alleged delay in the disbursal of e-grants to Dalit and Adivasi students.

The party would reach out to student organisations across political affiliations to coordinate its campaign, he said, adding that it would continue to raise its voice against issues concerning the State. He also called on the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) to set aside their political differences and unite on the issue concerning the Election Commission.

The CJP has put forward three demands as part of its campaign for electoral reforms—the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, an independent inquiry into all matters related to the SIR, and the repeal of the 2023 law governing the appointment of Election Commissioners.

The CJP’s nationwide protest is scheduled to begin in Mumbai on October 2, 2026 before being extended to other parts of the country.

Later in the day, addressing a meet attended by nearly 150 supporters of the CJP on Marine Drive, Mr. Mallangi said the CJP’s ideology was all about protecting the fundamental principles laid out in the Constitution.

Questioning the BJP for coming out in defence of the Chief Election Commissioner when the CJP raised allegations against him, the CJP leader alleged that it was clear that the ruling party was controlling the officer. He also cited the revelation by former Kerala Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson that Mr. Kumar had suggested him to contest the Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket as another evidence of the unholy nexus between him and the party.

CJP’s national coordinators from Keralam—Firoz Khan, Nidhin Noble, Sanoop Dev and Isha Mariyam Harris—and representatives of Azadi and Students and Youth Collective, two groups of young activists supporting the CJP, spoke at the meet.

People from different age groups were among those who attended the meet, said to be the first official gathering of the CJP in the State.

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