Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Vishal Dadlani join Mumbai protest against election chief

Defying the ban at Shivaji Park

Prominent cultural figures including Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, and Vishal Dadlani joined thousands of protesters in Mumbai on Friday, defying a police ban to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The demonstration, held at the historic Shivaji Park, was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). It was part of a growing backlash against the Election Commission over controversial changes to the country's electoral rolls. While police in Delhi cracked down on a parallel protest, detaining hundreds of people, the Mumbai gathering went ahead with high-profile backing from some of the biggest names in Hindi cinema.

Why the protesters are angry

The public anger stems from recent reports of internal divisions within the Election Commission of India. Media reports revealed that two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over a 10-month period regarding decisions on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. Some of these decisions were allegedly made without their knowledge.

While the Election Commission later issued a statement asserting that all decisions regarding the revisions were taken unanimously, the reports have sparked deep concern among civil rights groups.

The CJP has demanded Gyanesh Kumar's immediate resignation, the initiation of criminal proceedings against him, a freeze on the ongoing revision process, and the restoration of the January 2025 voter lists.

Star power on the streets

The protest in Mumbai was led by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke. The crowd grew particularly animated when veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah made an unannounced appearance.

A video shared online by Dipke showed the actor meeting and hugging him. "I would like to thank you," Shah told him, explaining that he had come to show his solidarity. An overwhelmed Dipke, who said he was a huge fan, later posted the video online with the caption: "Am I dreaming or what?"

Shabana Azmi also addressed the gathering, emphasizing the importance of protecting the right to vote. "People often say that Mumbaikars don’t care about anything, but this is a question of our democracy, our rights, and our voice," she said, arguing that citizens have a constitutional right to raise their voices when names are missing from voter lists.

Later, singer-composer Vishal Dadlani took to the stage, hugging Dipke and leading the crowd in chanting, "Go Gyanu Go." Dadlani told the crowd he was glad to join the movement, adding, "This movement will continue."

Police watch as Delhi crackdowns

Mumbai Police had officially denied permission for the protest at Shivaji Park, citing traffic concerns, potential noise pollution, and existing restrictions on public gatherings at the venue. While officers monitored the situation on Friday to maintain order, they did not move to disperse the peaceful crowd.

In Delhi, the authorities took a much harder line. Protesters from student groups, including the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Students' Association (AISA), tried to gather near Jantar Mantar to voice similar demands. Delhi Police detained more than 500 people, including AISA national president Neha Bora and Aam Aadmi Party Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj.

The choice of venue in Mumbai also triggered a local debate. After some Shivaji Park residents complained about the noise and disruption caused by the protest, writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar weighed in on social media. Akhtar questioned whether those residents would voice the same objections with equal strength when major political parties hold giant public rallies at the very same park.