Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah made headlines this week after being spotted at a demonstration organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in Mumbai. The seasoned star visited the Shivaji Park venue to show his solidarity with the ongoing movement, where he was seen embracing party founder Abhijit Dipke. In a candid moment, the actor admitted to being a fan of Dipke’s work, even jokingly asking if he was dreaming during their meeting. Shah took the opportunity to thank the younger generation for their commitment to raising their voices on pressing national issues.
The CJP has been at the center of a series of demonstrations throughout October 2026, centering their dissent on the electoral process and the actions of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The movement primarily opposes the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which activists argue undermines the fundamental principles of the Indian political system. Abhijit Dipke has been vocal in his criticism, asserting that citizens should have the right to choose their government rather than having the system curate its own voters.
The campaign has faced significant resistance from authorities, with Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar defending the crackdown on protesters as a necessary measure to maintain law and order. Following a denied march on October 10, over 500 individuals were detained, including Dipke and fellow members Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Ranka, though they were released the following day. Despite these hurdles and the loss of access to designated protest sites, the movement remains undeterred.
Legal and administrative scrutiny continues to surround the group, though the Supreme Court recently declined to issue an immediate order to halt a CJP demonstration at Delhi’s Central Park on October 16. As the party persists with its program, the movement expects further friction in the coming weeks. For now, the involvement of a high-profile figure like Naseeruddin Shah has undeniably brought increased visibility to the party’s platform and their ongoing fight for electoral reform.