Ajinkya Shinde, the national organisation in-charge for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has assumed leadership of the ongoing protest movement following the detention of several senior party figures in Delhi. Shinde has urged supporters to assemble at Mumbai's historic Shivaji Park today at 4 pm, intensifying the party's demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
CJP Demands and Allegations
The CJP's primary demand is for Gyanesh Kumar to step down, citing alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Shinde has also called for a freeze on the 2025 voter lists and the repeal of the 2023 law governing the appointment of election commissioners.
The call for renewed protests comes after CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, along with co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were detained by Delhi Police ahead of a planned demonstration in the national capital. Dipke, in a video message, confirmed Shinde would guide the agitation until their release.
Who is Ajinkya Shinde?
Ajinkya Shinde, 35, is a computer science graduate from Maharashtra. Hailing from a farming family in Alibaug, he left a career in IT to join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) full-time. Shinde served as AAP's Pimpri-Chinchwad convener and later as their social media coordinator and youth wing convener in Maharashtra.
He has been a close associate of Abhijeet Dipke since 2016, and in August, Dipke appointed Shinde as the CJP's national organisation in-charge. Shinde is regarded as a key behind-the-scenes strategist for the party and previously led CJP's activities in Mumbai.
Prior Protests and Legal Challenges
This is not the first time the CJP has mobilised at Shivaji Park. An earlier protest on October 2 drew an estimated 9,000 to 10,000 people. However, that gathering led to legal trouble, with Mumbai Police registering an FIR against Dipke, Ranka, Das, Shinde, and over 400 unidentified individuals for allegedly holding an unauthorised assembly and making announcements despite denied permission.
Speaking to reporters, Shinde affirmed the party's resolve: "We will continue our protest tomorrow, day after… until Gyanesh Kumar resigns. We will be on the streets."