Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Election Commission of India (ECI) and allegations of irregularities in the electoral process, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has urged Opposition parties to stop contesting elections if they genuinely believe the polls are being manipulated.
Dipke made the remarks on Friday, September 25, questioning why Opposition parties continue to participate in elections while repeatedly raising allegations about the electoral process. He compared the situation to playing a fixed cricket match and argued that continued participation gives legitimacy to elections that the Opposition itself describes as unfair.
Dipke Questions Opposition’s Continued Participation
In a post on X, Dipke said Opposition parties could not simultaneously claim that elections were being rigged and continue to contest them.
He argued that participating in elections under such circumstances could help maintain the appearance that the electoral process remains free and fair. Dipke also questioned whether Opposition parties continue to contest elections because they fear losing their political relevance.
His comments came amid a wider political dispute over the functioning of the Election Commission and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
‘Fixed Match’ Analogy
Dipke used the analogy of a fixed cricket match to explain his argument.
He said that even in a supposedly fixed match, not every catch would necessarily be dropped. According to his analogy, some contests could remain competitive until the final stages to create the appearance of a genuine competition.
He further claimed that Opposition parties could receive a few electoral victories to keep them participating and maintain the impression of a competitive political system.
These statements represent Dipke’s allegations and political characterisation, rather than independently established facts about elections.
‘You Cannot Keep Saying the Game Is Rigged’
Dipke directly challenged Opposition parties over their position on electoral irregularities.
He argued that if political parties genuinely believe elections are being manipulated, they should take a consistent position rather than continue participating in the same electoral process.
He also said allegations of electoral manipulation should matter regardless of the state or political party affected.
His argument was that political parties should place what he described as the broader interests of democracy above their immediate electoral interests.
Dipke Had Demanded CEC’s Resignation
Dipke’s latest remarks came a day after the CJP demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
On September 24, Dipke reportedly gave the CEC 48 hours to step down and warned of a nationwide protest if his demand was not met. He alleged that the Election Commission had allowed voter deletions and electoral manipulation. Those allegations remain claims made by Dipke and have not been independently established as facts.
The CJP has therefore positioned itself as a critic of the Election Commission during the current controversy.
ECI Row Follows Reports of Internal Objections
The latest controversy intensified after an Indian Express investigation reported that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections at least 14 times over a 10-month period concerning decisions and orders of the Election Commission.
The reported objections involved matters related to electoral-roll management, including the addition, deletion and restoration of voters, changes to the voter-registration process and access to electoral-roll databases.
The reports have prompted Opposition leaders and other political figures to question the functioning of the poll panel.
Election Commission Rejects Institutional Rift Claims
The Election Commission has rejected suggestions that the reported differences amount to an institutional breakdown.
According to reports, ECI sources said that differences of opinion, written notes and internal discussions form part of the decision-making process in a multi-member constitutional body.
The poll panel has also maintained that important decisions relating to the Special Intensive Revision were taken with the approval of the commissioners.
The competing accounts have become a central part of the current debate over the Election Commission’s functioning.
Opposition Leaders Have Raised Questions
Opposition leaders have separately raised concerns about the Election Commission and called for action against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has demanded the CEC’s resignation and repeated his allegations concerning electoral manipulation. Gandhi has also referred to the reported objections raised by the two Election Commissioners.
The Opposition’s position differs from the Election Commission’s account that its decisions have followed the institution’s established decision-making process.
Debate Over SIR Continues
The controversy is also linked to the Election Commission’s nationwide Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The SIR process involves reviewing and updating electoral rolls. Supporters of the exercise describe it as a process aimed at maintaining accurate voter lists, while critics have raised concerns about its implementation and possible effects on voters.
The reported differences within the Election Commission have added another layer to the political debate surrounding the exercise.
Dipke Calls for a Different Political Approach
Dipke’s latest intervention focuses on the contradiction he sees between alleging electoral manipulation and continuing to participate in elections.
His position is that Opposition parties should stop contesting polls if they believe the electoral system is fundamentally compromised. He has argued that participation itself can provide legitimacy to a process they describe as unfair.
Opposition parties, meanwhile, continue to participate in elections while raising their concerns through political statements, public campaigns and demands for institutional action.
ECI Controversy Remains Unresolved
The dispute over the Election Commission has brought questions about electoral-roll revision, internal decision-making and the role of the Chief Election Commissioner into the political spotlight.
Dipke’s comments add another dimension to the controversy by challenging Opposition parties to reconsider their participation in elections.
While his allegations about rigged elections remain his own claims, the reported objections raised by two Election Commissioners and the ECI’s response have fuelled an ongoing public debate about the functioning of India’s election machinery.
As the SIR process continues, attention will remain focused on the Election Commission’s decisions, political responses and any further developments concerning the reported differences within the poll panel.
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