The Cockroach Janata Party achieved in July what established political parties had repeatedly failed to do. Emerging from a satirical social media post, it transformed anger over examination paper leaks, unemployment and official indifference into a nationwide youth movement. After weeks of protests, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned.
That victory gave the Cockroach Janata Party an extraordinary worldwide reputation for a movement barely two months old. It also created expectations that it could repeat the achievement by leading the campaign in October calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The controversy over the removal of more than 130 million names from India’s electoral rolls has triggered widespread protests. Protestors claim that the revision has disproportionately affected minorities, Dalits, economically weaker citizens and other vulnerable groups, potentially benefiting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
The Election Commission and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party deny wrongdoing. Yet, although the CJP was quick to call for Kumar’s resignation, it has not been the principal force directing the agitation.
The movement is instead being shaped largely by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, opposition parties, established student organisations and civil society activists. Opposition leaders have marched, faced detention and taken the dispute to the Supreme Court, seeking an audit of voter deletions and...