CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke predicts BJP-led NDA’s defeat in 2029 Lok Sabha polls

Kochi: Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has predicted that the BJP-led NDA government will be voted out in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, urging people to prepare for a change at the Centre.

Addressing a protest in Kochi against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Dipke said a change of government could come only through elections. He also reiterated his demand for an independent and impartial electoral system.

The protest, held at Rajendra Maidan, was part of the CJP’s “Jantar Mantar at Kochi” campaign, which has called for the cancellation of the SIR exercise.

According to the Press Trust of India, Dipke alleged that the NDA government was targeting the country’s youth to protect the Chief Election Commissioner. He questioned why Kumar was so important to the Centre.

Referring to his arrest in Delhi along with CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka for entering Jantar Mantar with the national flag, Dipke said he would continue carrying the Tricolour wherever he went.

“I was sent behind bars for raising this Tricolour. Saurav and Ashu, my two brothers, were also sent behind bars for raising it. The last time this happened in India was when we were ruled by the British,” he said.

Comparing the NDA government with British rule, Dipke alleged that it was attempting to restrict people’s freedom.

“If you want to arrest me, you can arrest me in Delhi, Maharashtra, Keralam or Tamil Nadu. Arrest me from every part of the country, but I will come back again and raise this Tricolour,” he said.

Dipke claimed that the Centre was gradually trying to control what people ate, whom they married and whom they voted for. He alleged that the SIR exercise was being used to influence election outcomes.

“They first wanted to control what you eat, then whom you can marry and love, and now they have come to a point where they want to control whom you vote for,” he said.

Dipke said the country was founded on the ideals of BR Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.

He claimed that the country had remained largely silent over the past 10 to 12 years, but said the Jantar Mantar protest had helped people regain their voice and courage.

“For the last 10-12 years, somewhere this country had lost its voice. But what happened at Jantar Mantar, because of that, the country has found its voice again,” he said.

Dipke said the Centre was cracking down on young protesters because they had begun questioning those in power. He also accused the BJP of dividing people along religious lines and alleged that riots were being instigated for political gain.

“This is the youth of this country whom you are calling anarchists. No, sir, we are not anarchists. We are Ambedkarites, we are Gandhians. Don’t you dare call us anarchists,” he said.

“I am not saying that the government was perfect. But that India was more democratic, where you were allowed to criticise the prime minister. And that is how democracy should be,” he added.

The meeting at Rajendra Maidan was attended by people from different age groups. Leaders of several youth and socio-cultural organisations also participated, and cultural programmes were held. Earlier, actor Prakash Raj led a protest march from Marine Drive to Rajendra Maidan.

The protest focused on opposition to the revision of electoral rolls and demands for an impartial electoral process. Dipke called for Kumar’s resignation and predicted a change of government through the 2029 elections.