Mamata Banerjee meets CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke ahead of INDIA bloc's November 1 rally

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Saturday met Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke in Delhi, a day before the INDIA bloc's rally against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and alleged electoral irregularities.

The Opposition rally is scheduled to take place at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, November 1, with parties expected to raise concerns over alleged vote theft and demand accountability from the Election Commission.

During the meeting, Banerjee praised Dipke and other young activists for spearheading protests against the SIR exercise and the Election Commission, describing them as pioneers of the movement.

"I am so proud of them, not only me, all the young generations today. They are the pioneers and they are the founders of this movement," she said.

Banerjee also acknowledged the activists' support for Sunday's rally and assured them that the TMC would extend its backing to their initiatives.

Dipke recalls Banerjee's support during CJP protests

Dipke said he had met Banerjee to thank her for standing by the organisation during its earlier protests, particularly its first demonstration at Jantar Mantar over the NEET question paper leak.

He also recalled her support when CJP leaders 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 told news agency PTI.

The CJP founder also expressed support for the INDIA bloc's November 1 demonstration, saying the organisation stood in solidarity with the Opposition's campaign against alleged electoral irregularities.

CJP backs rally but insists on remaining independent

Asked whether the organisation would participate in the Ramlila Maidan rally, Dipke said CJP supported the Opposition's cause but would maintain its independent identity and remain a neutral platform.

"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 said.

He maintained that the fight against alleged electoral irregularities was not restricted to any particular political party or organisation. CJP would support all groups campaigning against what it described as vote theft.

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

Banerjee, who is in the national capital to attend Sunday's demonstration, also invited Dipke and other CJP activists to visit West Bengal and organise programmes in the state. Asked whether the organisation planned to hold an event in Kolkata, she said the decision would rest with the activists.

CJP's campaign against SIR and Election Commission

CJP had extended its support to the INDIA bloc rally on October 28, reiterating its demand for Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over the SIR exercise and alleged electoral irregularities.

The organisation had maintained that eligible voters must not be excluded from electoral rolls and said it would stand with all groups fighting for free and fair elections.

The CJP and Congress had largely pursued separate campaigns against the Election Commission before announcing their support for a common demonstration. The Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, Left parties, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) had earlier backed CJP's protests.

The November 1 rally at Ramlila Maidan is part of the INDIA bloc's campaign seeking accountability from the Election Commission over the SIR exercise and alleged vote theft. The Delhi Police has granted permission for the demonstration, subject to conditions, between 10am and 5pm.

The meeting between Banerjee and Dipke comes amid growing coordination among Opposition parties and youth-led groups campaigning against the SIR and demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.