When BJP protested against the Election Commission in 2014; here's where and why it happened

Ahead of Cockroach Janta Party's October 10 protest in Delhi,  revisit the time when Bharatiya Janta Party staged protests against the the Election Commission in Varanasi and Delhi. 

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is set to hold what is being described as a "peaceful protest" by founder Abhijeet Dipke at Delhi's popular protest site Jantar Mantar. It is scheduled to take place on Saturday despite denial of permission by the Delhi Police. CJP and other groups have called for the protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the election proceedings, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Earlier, 42 retired judges, including former Supreme Court judges and high court chiefs, via an open letter defended Gyanesh Kumar. Criticising protests led by CJP, it expressed concerns over an alleged campaign against the Election Commission of India.

When BJP protested against Election Commission of India

Interestingly, once the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) protested against the Election Commission of India (ECI). The protest dates back to May 2014 after the poll panel denied permission to Narendra Modi, who was the then prime ministerial candidate, to hold a rally at Beniabagh Maidan in Varanasi.

Quick answers to key questions

•4

QUESTIONS

The protest followed the denial of permission for Narendra Modi, then the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, to hold a rally at Beniabagh Maidan in Varanasi. The party questioned the Election Commission’s neutrality and alleged bias.

Protests took place in Varanasi and New Delhi on May 8, 2014. In Varanasi, BJP leaders staged a dharna outside the Banaras Hindu University campus.

Arun Jaitley, Amit Shah and Ananth Kumar staged a dharna outside the Banaras Hindu University campus after permission for Modi’s rally was denied.

The BJP called off its protest after a meeting with Election Commission officials in New Delhi. Its delegation sought the replacement of Varanasi’s district magistrate and an independent inquiry into the permission denial.

Modi was scheduled to hold a rally at Beniabagh Maidan.

According to a report by The Indian Express, the district administration cited security and related concerns and denied permission for the rally.

The Election Commission was accused of being biased against the party. The neutrality of the poll panel was also questioned following the denial of permission.

What did EC say

The Election Commission reportedly had dismissed allegations of biasness during the controversy.

Modi, Amit Shah protest in Delhi, Varanasi

The denial of permission for the rally triggered widespread protest by BJP workers. Several senior party leaders questioned the Election Commission’s neutrality ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

According to the publication, the protests took place in Varanasi, which is now PM Modi's constituency, as well as New Delhi on May 8, 2014. BJP demanded action against Varanasi’s district magistrate and returning officer, Pranjal Yadav, during their protests.

In Varanasi, BJP leaders Arun Jaitley, Amit Shah and Ananth Kumar, staged a dharna outside the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus following the denial of permission for Modi’s rally.

Clash with Delhi Police

In New Delhi, BJP leaders and workers attempted to march towards the Election Commission’s office in an attempt to protest against the move. However, the protesting party workers were stopped by Delhi Police before they could reach the office. Prohibitions were imposed in the area, added the report.

How did it end

Reportedly, the BJP called off its protest after a meeting with Election Commission officials in New Delhi.

The delegation, led by senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu, reportedly asked the commission to replace the Varanasi district magistrate and conduct an independent inquiry into the denial of permission.

About the Author

Sneha Biswas specialises in covering entertainment and pop culture, with a specialisation on Bollywood, Hollywood, OTT platforms, K-pop, K-dramas, and major developments in the US entertainment industry. She believes in telling stories that balance speed with substance, and in making entertainment journalism contextual, culturally aware, and reader-first rather than purely reactive.<br><br> With over six years of experience in digital media, Sneha currently serves as a Deputy Chief Content Producer at Live Mint. She has spent more than three and a half years with the HT Group and returned to the organisation in February 2025, joining Live Mint to uplift the entertainment section. Over the past year, she has been closely involved in entertainment coverage including breaking news, explainers, trend reporting, box office reports and analysis for the audience.<br><br> Sneha is Google News certified, having completed training focused on newsroom best practices, digital reporting, and SEO-driven content strategies. Her work reflects a strong understanding of audience behaviour, search trends, and the evolving consumption patterns of entertainment news across formats.<br><br> Prior to her current role, Sneha has worked across multiple content and editorial functions within digital newsrooms, building expertise in content planning, editing, and real-time coverage. Her professional interests lie at the intersection of entertainment, internet culture, and global pop trends.<br><br> Working for the National city team, Biswas closely follows global entertainment movements while maintaining a strong pulse on what is happening in India.