Kochi: Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Saturday predicted that the Narendra Modi-led government would be voted out of power in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, urging citizens to prepare for a change in government at the Centre.

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He also vowed to continue carrying the national flag across the country despite facing arrest.

Addressing a protest meeting at Rajendra Maidan in Kochi, organised as part of the CJP's 'Jantar Mantar at Kochi' campaign against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Dipke called for an independent and impartial electoral system.

Taking a direct swipe at the BJP's confidence in Modi's continued leadership, Dipke said the prime minister would lose power in the next general elections.

‘Be prepared for 2029. He will definitely go,’ he declared, drawing cheers from the gathering.

Insisting that a change in government could only come through elections, the CJP founder reiterated his demand that Gyanesh Kumar resign, alleging that his continued tenure would undermine the credibility of the electoral process.

‘Gyanesh Kumar has to go. If he goes, Narendra Modi will also go,’ Dipke said, questioning why the Chief Election Commissioner was so important to the prime minister.

'Arrest me from every part of the country'

Recalling his arrest in Delhi along with fellow CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka for entering Jantar Mantar with the national flag, Dipke said the action would not deter him from continuing his protests.

‘I was sent behind bars for raising this Tricolour. Saurav and Ashu, my two brothers, were also sent behind bars for raising it. The last time this happened in India was when we were ruled by the British,’ he said.

Drawing a comparison between the present government and British rule, Dipke alleged that the Centre was increasingly restricting people's freedoms.

He challenged Prime Minister Modi to arrest him wherever he carried the national flag, asserting that he would return to continue his protest.

‘I will carry this Tricolour everywhere, in every part of this country. If you want to arrest me, you can arrest me in Delhi, Maharashtra, Keralam or Tamil Nadu. Arrest me from every part of the country, but I will come back again and raise this Tricolour,’ he said.

Accuses Centre of controlling people's choices

Dipke also accused the government of gradually attempting to control citizens' personal choices, including their food habits, relationships and voting rights.

‘They first wanted to control what you eat, then whom you can marry and love, and now they have come to a point where they want to control whom you vote for,’ he alleged, claiming that the SIR exercise was being used to influence electoral outcomes.

Describing the country's democratic foundations, Dipke said India was built on the ideals of B R Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. He called Gandhi the soul of India, Ambedkar its backbone, and Nehru its mind.

He further asserted that Modi could never surpass the stature of the three leaders, regardless of how long he remained in power.

‘Even if you remain in power for 120 years, you will never become bigger than Ambedkar, Gandhi and Nehru,’ he said.

Targets Modi over Donald Trump, compares Manmohan Singh era with present

Rejecting allegations that the CJP was receiving foreign funding or attempting to destabilise India, Dipke accused Modi of compromising the country's interests to protect his international image, particularly in the face of US President Donald Trump's remarks and actions.

‘Who is selling the interests of this nation? It is you, not the CJP and not the cockroaches,’ he said.

The CJP founder also alleged that India had lost its democratic voice over the past 10 to 12 years, claiming that the Jantar Mantar protest had encouraged citizens, particularly young people, to speak up against those in power.

Taking aim at the BJP over allegations of religious polarisation, he accused the party of dividing people along religious lines for political gains. He also defended young protesters who had been labelled anarchists.

‘This is the youth of this country whom you are calling anarchists. No, sir, we are not anarchists. We are Ambedkarites, we are Gandhians. Don't you dare call us anarchists,’ he said.

Comparing the present political climate with the tenure of former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Dipke argued that India was more democratic during the Congress-led government, when citizens could openly criticise the Prime Minister.

He maintained that while the Manmohan Singh government was not perfect, the freedom to question the country's leadership was an essential feature of democracy.

The protest meeting at Rajendra Maidan drew people from all age groups, along with leaders of several youth and socio-cultural organizations. The event also included cultural programs.

Earlier, actor Prakash Raj led a protest march from Marine Drive to Rajendra Maidan in Kochi.