Renowned climate and education activist Sonam Wangchuk has extended his backing to the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) proposed nationwide protest on October 2 against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
Stressing that initiatives aimed at strengthening national accountability and the electoral framework are vital, Wangchuk noted that such efforts deserve widespread public support.
However, Wangchuk clarified that he may not participate in the demonstration physically. Highlighting his philosophy on civic agitation, he noted that independent movements should maintain their own momentum and self-reliance without depending on individual figures.
“The whole idea of supporting movements for me is that these movements are on their own… and therefore I hope I will not be needed on the CEC issue,” he remarked.
Underlining the gravity of institutional transparency, Wangchuk stated that a robust electoral process is foundational to any functioning democracy.
“If the election process is spoiled, then what is left of democracy?” he asked, while also reiterating the importance of fulfilling state promises, such as granting the Sixth Schedule status to Ladakh.
The CJP’s upcoming agitation— slated to kick off in Mumbai on Gandhi Jayanti—follows intense scrutiny over the Election Commission’s handling of electoral roll revisions. While the poll panel has defended its procedures, political pressure continues to mount, with various groups demanding transparency and institutional accountability.