Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has questioned why Opposition parties continue to contest elections while alleging that the electoral process is being manipulated.
In a post on X on Friday, September 25, Dipke compared elections to a fixed cricket match and argued that continuing to participate in polls that parties themselves describe as unfair could give them an appearance of legitimacy.
‘You Cannot Keep Saying the Game Is Rigged’
Dipke said Opposition parties “cannot keep saying the game is rigged while continuing to play it”, arguing that their participation could help maintain the perception that elections are free and fair.
Using the example of a fixed cricket match, he said a manipulated contest would not necessarily look suspicious throughout the game. According to his analogy, some opportunities could be missed deliberately while the match could still be allowed to continue until the final stages to make it appear genuine.
Dipke further claimed that Opposition parties could be allowed occasional victories or what he called “the crumbs” to encourage them to remain part of the electoral process and give voters the impression of a genuine contest. These are Dipke’s allegations and characterisation of the electoral process.
Dipke Questions Opposition’s Political Strategy
The CJP founder also questioned why Opposition parties continue participating in elections despite repeatedly raising concerns about alleged vote manipulation, defections and political splits.
“Maybe you keep contesting because you fear that if you don’t, you will stop existing,” Dipke said.
He argued that parties raising concerns about the electoral process should maintain the same position irrespective of which state or political party is involved.
Dipke called on Opposition parties to consider putting what he described as the interests of democracy and the country ahead of their political survival. He suggested that parties should consider withdrawing from elections if they genuinely believe the electoral process is being manipulated.
CJP Targets Election Commission
Dipke’s latest remarks came a day after the CJP intensified its campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
On Thursday, the organisation demanded Kumar’s resignation within 48 hours and threatened to launch a nationwide agitation if he did not step down. The group also called for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to be halted and demanded a freeze on upcoming elections.
The CJP has announced what it described as “Jantar Mantar 2.0” as part of its proposed protest campaign if its demand is not met.
Row Over Election Commission’s Internal Working
The CJP’s demands come amid a wider controversy surrounding reported differences within the Election Commission over electoral-roll management and aspects of the SIR exercise.
An Indian Express investigation reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on multiple occasions concerning decisions related to voter additions, deletions, restoration of names and changes involving Form 6 and access to electoral-roll data.
The Election Commission has rejected suggestions of an institutional rift, maintaining that differences of opinion and written observations are part of the functioning of a multi-member constitutional body. The poll panel has also maintained that decisions, including those related to SIR, were taken unanimously.
Dipke’s latest comments add to the ongoing political debate surrounding electoral-roll revisions, the Election Commission and Opposition allegations concerning the conduct of elections.
