Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) national organizer Ajinkya Shinde has directed activists to meet in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park at 4 p.m., escalating protests over Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s alleged role in electoral-roll discrepancies.
The announcement follows ongoing demonstrations by the CJP even as authorities detained multiple top leaders in Delhi. As per his post on social media, Shinde, who holds the position of national organisational in-charge for the CJP, asked activists and backers to gather at the iconic Dadar ground.
Background of Ajinkya Shinde
At 35 years old, Ajinkya Shinde holds a degree in computer science from Maharashtra. Born to a farming family in Alibaug that later relocated to Latur, he abandoned a well-paying position at a global IT company in Pune to dedicate himself fully to the Aam Aadmi Party.
He has worked closely with Abhijeet Dipke ever since their meeting in Goa back in 2016. Prior to leaving his job, Shinde acted as the AAP’s organising head for Pimpri-Chinchwad. He then devoted nearly a year to the party’s failed electoral bid in Goa before moving back to Maharashtra where he managed social media efforts and led the youth wing.
CJP Protest Movement
Dipke designated Shinde as the CJP’s national organisational coordinator back in August. The appointment raised eyebrows after two volunteers from Gujarat levelled charges of partiality against Dipke. His prominence grew when he was chosen to head the campaign after the arrest of prominent figures like Dipke, Ranka, and Das.
Shinde assumed control of the CJP’s demonstration drive once the arrested leaders were held by Delhi Police before the group’s proposed Jantar Mantar 2.0 rally in the capital. Through a recorded statement, Dipke confirmed that Shinde would continue leading the protests until those detained were freed.
The CJP continues to press for the removal of Gyanesh Kumar, citing alleged discrepancies in the electoral roll update process. Shinde has further called for halting the 2025 voter registry and repealing the 2023 legislation that governs how election commissioners are appointed.
As the CJP’s national organisation in-charge, Shinde is guiding the movement, which has sparked controversy and led to detentions of senior leaders. The protest movement continues, with Shinde urging supporters to assemble at Shivaji Park, a key site for the outfit’s Mumbai mobilisation. They are demanding action over alleged electoral-roll irregularities.
The CJP’s protest at Shivaji Park on October 2 drew a large police-estimated crowd of around 9,000 to 10,000 people by 4 pm. Shinde has stated, “We will be on the streets,” indicating the party’s commitment to continuing their protest until their demands are met, and the Chief Election Commissioner steps down.