New Delhi: In a show of unity in its campaign against alleged electoral irregularities, the Congress-led INDIA bloc brought together senior Opposition leaders and prominent civil society figures at a strategy meeting hosted by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, but not those of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
Among the figures present on the occasion on Tuesday stood veteran public-interest lawyer Prashant Bhushan and political activist and commentator Yogendra Yadav, both projected as being associated with anti-corruption and democratic rights campaigns.
Known for being a political platform opposed to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), their presence in the bloc’s “tea party” drew attention, but more for who was not there.
The CJP had no visible representation despite gaining prominence since its aggressive campaign against then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Founded by Abhijeet Dipke and initially perceived as a satirical outfit, the organisation has now taken up cudgels against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The CJP has received public backing from many of those present in Tuesday’s meeting, who see it aligned with their campaign; yet it is said to have insisted on remaining independent and not merging into any political formation, including the INDIA bloc.
The only youth representation was perhaps Neha Bora, President of the All India Students Association (AISA), the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation, whose General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya stood quietly.
Bora is not a formal member or official leader of the CJP, but has been a prominent face in its protests and campaigns since emerging as a forceful face in a movement that is being seen as a path for probable Left resurrection.
Meanwhile, the Congress has, at times, viewed the CJP with suspicion rather than as a partner, occasionally campaigning on similar issues and opposing the same government policies, but through separate structures, as pointed out in reports.
These have also been discussing how Congress leaders questioned the CJP’s origins, timing, funding transparency and rapid growth. Some are also said to be wary that the CJP could function as a vote-splitting force that might ultimately benefit the BJP.
Thus, there are several wheels churning within protesting groups, with several INDIA constituents having reportedly sought coordination, even if without a direct alliance.
While the Opposition bloc clearly intends to ride the wave with an eye on upcoming elections, Bhushan and Yadav’s association may stem from their political stand.
Once among noticeable faces around activist Anna Hazare and later leading members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) during its formative years, both have since been Arvind Kejriwal baiters.
Following the split, Yadav helped launch Swaraj Abhiyan and later Swaraj India, projects intended to provide an alternative model of participatory politics. Yet these initiatives struggled to achieve sustained electoral traction, and Yadav increasingly returned to issue-based activism rather than conventional party building. His foray into farm politics was also short-lived, having reportedly organised peasants, notably under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) umbrella that largely spearheaded the 2020-2021 anti-agricultural laws movement.
What distinguishes him from many contemporary activists is not only the span of involvement across movements, but also the number of organisational ruptures that have marked his public life.
Various farmer groups and political activists have, at different moments, differed with him over tactics, leadership structures and the extent to which social movements should engage electoral platforms.
That complex history may also explain why both Yadav and Bhushan remain attractive interlocutors for the INDIA bloc. Neither is currently associated with, or shows leanings for, any major political party, thus allowing the Opposition to project a “broader coalition”.
