'A neutral platform': CJP's Dipke meets Mamata, backs INDIA rally but rules out participation

'Anybody who will fight against this vote theft, we will support all organisations' says the youth outfit's founder

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Saturday met Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee in Delhi and expressed solidarity with the INDIA bloc's upcoming rally against alleged electoral irregularities, but made it clear that his organisation would not participate in Sunday's protest.

Dipke said the CJP would continue to function as an independent and neutral platform, even as it supported opposition parties and other organisations raising allegations of "vote chori".

"We support the protest tomorrow, we stand in solidarity, but the Cockroach Janta Party is an independent organisation; it is a neutral platform, and we want to keep it that way," he told reporters.

The meeting came a day before the INDIA bloc's rally at Ramlila Maidan, where opposition leaders are expected to question the Election Commission over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls.

Dipke said he had called on Banerjee primarily to thank her for supporting the CJP's youth-led protests, beginning with its agitation at Jantar Mantar over the NEET paper leak issue.

He also acknowledged her support when fellow activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were arrested by the Delhi Police.

"I just came to say thank you to Didi because the way she supported our first Jantar Mantar movement, she was always so strongly with the youth movement. When Saurav and Ashutosh were arrested by the Delhi Police, even then Didi stood with us very firmly," he said.

Maintaining that the campaign against alleged electoral malpractice extended beyond individual political parties or organisations, Dipke said the CJP would stand with anyone raising the issue.

"Anybody who will fight against this vote theft, we will support all organisations," he said.

Banerjee, who is in the national capital to attend Sunday's rally, welcomed the young activists' support and praised their role in protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the Election Commission.

"They have extended their full support for tomorrow's rally, and we have extended all support to them as well. They are the pioneers and the founders of this movement. That we must remember," she said.

The Trinamool chief said she was pleased to meet Dipke and acknowledged the activists' efforts to sustain their protests despite difficulties.

She also invited the CJP leaders to organise programmes in West Bengal.

Asked whether the outfit would hold an event in Kolkata, Banerjee said the decision was entirely theirs.

"That they will decide. It is their choice," she said.

The INDIA bloc's rally on Sunday is expected to bring together opposition leaders to press their allegations of electoral irregularities and demand accountability from the Election Commission.