Fadnavis Slams EC Critics as CJP Protests at Mumbai's Shivaji Park
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday accused critics of the Election Commission of pushing a fake narrative, speaking as activists from the Cockroach Janata Party and other groups gathered at Mumbai's Shivaji Park to demand the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The demonstration was organised to protest alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision process of the electoral rolls.
Addressing reporters in Mumbai, Fadnavis maintained that questions raised against the poll body had already been refuted by recent official explanations. He stated that the entire matter had been exposed following a press conference held by the three Election Commissioners. Fadnavis claimed that their fake narrative had been busted, yet attempts were still being made to push it, adding that critics would not succeed.
A heavy police deployment was put in place across Shivaji Park in anticipation of the demonstration. Members of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), joined by other political parties and civil society organisations, assembled at the venue to voice concerns regarding the electoral roll revision exercise and to seek the immediate ouster of the Chief Election Commissioner.
Speaking at the venue, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das labelled Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar a traitor to the country and asserted that citizens nationwide would back the agitation. Das stated that the movement was launching from Mumbai and would develop into a large protest. He recalled earlier youth demonstrations demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan and appealed to Mumbai residents and young people across India to join the ongoing agitation.
Meanwhile, local residents living around Shivaji Park voiced strong objections to the venue being used for political demonstrations, citing recurrent disruption to daily routines. Resident Sunil Bhagwat pointed out that citizens frequently visit the grounds for morning and evening walks and questioned who was responsible for the problems faced by common people due to constant protests.
Another local resident, Ravindra, highlighted that previous gatherings at the site had severely disrupted vehicular traffic and caused hardship for neighbours. He also alleged that liquor bottles had been thrown at visitors during an earlier demonstration, noting additional worries over the close proximity of schools and a hospital to the park.
