Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Deepke on Friday called on opposition parties to stop participating in elections if they genuinely believe the electoral process is being manipulated. He argued that continued participation in such elections lends legitimacy to the system and creates the perception that the process remains free and fair.
In a post on X, Deepke said opposition parties cannot simultaneously claim that elections are being rigged while continuing to contest them. According to him, persistent participation in elections that are alleged to be compromised only helps sustain public confidence in their legitimacy.
Deepke stated that if opposition leaders believe electoral irregularities are taking place, they should take a firm stand instead of continuing to fight elections. He suggested that political parties may fear losing their relevance if they stay away from the electoral process, but questioned what kind of political existence they are trying to preserve if, as they allege, votes are being stolen, elected representatives are being persuaded to switch sides, and political parties are being weakened from within.
The CJP founder further questioned whether opposition parties continue to contest elections because they are concerned that a boycott could threaten their political survival. He argued that remaining within a system they believe can weaken parties, split organisations, or attract lawmakers away from them does not amount to safeguarding political existence.
Deepke also accused opposition parties of selectively raising concerns over alleged electoral manipulation. He said parties should not speak about election-related irregularities only in states that are politically significant to them while remaining silent about similar concerns elsewhere.
Calling for a consistent approach, Deepke said that if there are genuine concerns about the integrity of elections, the issue should transcend state boundaries and party interests. He urged opposition leaders to prioritise the democratic system and the country's interests over their own political calculations and to clearly state their position by refusing to participate in elections they consider compromised.
Drawing a comparison with a fixed cricket match, Deepke argued that outcomes can allegedly be influenced while still appearing competitive. He said that, just as some catches may still be taken and a match may go down to the final over despite being fixed, political parties may occasionally secure victories that create the impression of a fair contest. According to him, such wins can encourage continued participation and help maintain the perception that elections are genuinely competitive.
Deepke's remarks come a day after he demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He had warned that if the demand was not met, he would launch a movement titled 'Jantar Mantar 2.0'.
The statement was issued a day after a report published by The Indian Express on Wednesday. According to the report, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had raised objections on at least 14 occasions over the past 10 months regarding decisions and orders of the Election Commission. The objections reportedly related to matters including the addition, deletion and restoration of voters' names, as well as changes to the voter registration process.