Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke met Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee in Delhi on Saturday and thanked her for backing the organisation’s youth-led protests. He also expressed solidarity with the INDIA bloc’s rally against alleged “vote chori”, while making it clear that the CJP would not formally join Sunday’s demonstration at Ramlila Maidan.
Dipke said the meeting was intended to acknowledge Banerjee’s support during the CJP’s first protest at Jantar Mantar over the NEET paper leak. He also referred to her backing after CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were arrested by Delhi Police.
“I came here to thank Didi because she strongly supported our first Jantar Mantar movement and stood firmly with the youth movement. Even when Saurav and Ashutosh were arrested by Delhi Police, Didi stood with us,” Dipke said.
Although the CJP supports the issues being raised at the INDIA bloc rally, Dipke said the organisation would maintain its separate identity as an independent and neutral platform.
“We support tomorrow’s protest and stand in solidarity with it. However, the Cockroach Janta Party is an independent organisation and a neutral platform. We want to maintain that identity,” he said.
Dipke added that the CJP would extend support to every organisation campaigning against alleged electoral irregularities, regardless of political affiliation. “Anybody who fights against vote theft will have our support. We will support all organisations,” he said.
Mamata invites CJP activists to West Bengal
Banerjee, who is in Delhi to attend Sunday’s INDIA bloc rally, praised Dipke and the young activists for their protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the Election Commission.
After the meeting, the Trinamool Congress chief said the activists had extended full support to the upcoming programme and that her party had reciprocated. She described them as pioneers and founders of the movement and praised their efforts to continue the protests despite difficulties.
Banerjee also invited Dipke and other CJP activists to visit West Bengal and organise programmes there. Asked whether the activists would hold an event in Kolkata, she said the decision would be theirs.
“That is for them to decide. It is their choice,” she said.
Opposition prepares for Ramlila Maidan mobilisation
The meeting took place a day before the INDIA bloc’s mega rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. Opposition parties are set to protest against alleged electoral irregularities and seek accountability from the Election Commission, including the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Leaders and supporters from several states have begun arriving in the national capital as preparations for the mobilisation continue. Political parties, student groups and civil society organisations are expected to be part of the programme.
A large tricolour canopy has been installed over the main stage, while separate arrangements are being made for INDIA bloc representatives. Security preparations are also underway. The programme is scheduled to run from 10 am to 5 pm, following a march from Minto Road to Ramlila Maidan.
The march, titled ‘Chalo Dilli’, will start at noon from the Minto Road-Connaught Place junction and conclude at Ramlila Maidan. INDIA bloc leaders are expected to travel in open buses from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence to the march’s starting point.
The mobilisation is also being extended beyond the alliance’s political parties. The INDIA bloc has appealed to students, youth, women, workers and civil society members to take part. The CJP and student organisations have extended their support to the November 1 mobilisation.
The organisation, founded by Dipke, has reiterated its demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation and said it would stand with groups campaigning for free and fair elections. Dipke, however, maintained that the CJP would not formally participate in Sunday’s rally.
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