The detention of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) convenor Abhijeet Dipke ahead of its Tiranga March in Delhi on Friday has raised questions about the organisation’s leadership and protest strategy.
Dipke was taken into preventive custody shortly before the march was scheduled to begin at 5 pm at Central Park in Connaught Place. Police had earlier served him a notice citing restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Before his detention, the CJP had said it was prepared with a Plan B if police stopped Dipke from reaching the protest venue. However, the organisation did not immediately reveal its alternative strategy or name a leader to take charge.
During an earlier protest on October 10, Dipke had named organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde as his successor if he was detained. The CJP has been protesting against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Security was tightened around Connaught Place, with Delhi Police, CRPF and RAF personnel deployed near Central Park. Protesters gathered in several groups, but no clear leadership emerged on the ground even hours after Dipke’s detention.
The developments have put the CJP’s ability to sustain its campaign without its prominent leaders to the test.