CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has received an invitation to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with Union minister Ramdas Athawale urging the young activist to consider joining his Republican Party of India (A).
Athawale’s offer comes weeks after Dipke emerged as one of the prominent faces of the student-led protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET-UG 2026 controversy.
However, Dipke has not yet responded to the invitation. He has previously made it clear that he does not intend to enter electoral politics and wants the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to function as a public movement rather than a conventional political party.
Athawale pitches RPI(A) to Dipke
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Athawale described Dipke as a young and active Ambedkarite and suggested that he join the Republican Party of India (A).
“I think Abhijeet Dipke is an Ambedkarite. He is active and young. He should consider joining Republic Party of India (A),” Athawale said.
RPI(A) is part of the BJP-led coalition at the Centre.
Athawale also said the government believes that people who commit wrongdoing should face punishment, apparently referring to the student protests that took place at Jantar Mantar and subsequently led to the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
“We are a government that believes people should be punished if they do wrong. So, he should join the ruling faction,” Athawale said.
Dipke has ruled out electoral politics
The invitation comes at a time when Dipke has repeatedly distanced himself from electoral politics.
Earlier this month, the CJP founder said people had increasingly lost faith in political parties and the electoral system. He argued that the country needed a public movement rather than another political organisation.
“We have no such intention,” Dipke had said when asked about entering electoral politics.
He also questioned the role of political parties amid allegations concerning the use of investigative agencies and electoral processes.
According to Dipke, the CJP’s focus should remain on raising issues affecting ordinary citizens rather than contesting elections.
CJP’s student protest campaign
Dipke gained wider attention during the student-led agitation at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over alleged examination irregularities and the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy.
The protests eventually intensified into a major political issue, with protesters demanding accountability from the Centre. Dharmendra Pradhan subsequently resigned as Union education minister.
Dipke has since continued to position the CJP as a pressure group rather than a conventional political party.
‘School Thik Karo’ campaign
The CJP founder recently launched the ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign from his native village in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district.
The campaign focuses on the condition of government schools, particularly in rural areas. Dipke has called for better basic infrastructure in schools and questioned the continuing disparity between educational facilities available in villages and those in larger cities.
He has also urged parents and village leaders to take responsibility for improving government schools and called for measures to prevent private-school fees from becoming unaffordable.
For now, it remains unclear whether Athawale’s invitation will change Dipke’s position on electoral politics. His previous statements suggest that he intends to continue the CJP as a movement focused on public issues rather than join an established political alliance.
