New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has named its organisation in-charge Ajinkya Shinde to lead its planned protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi after founder Abhijeet Dipke and two other leaders were detained by Delhi Police at the airport on Saturday.

Dipke had recorded a video in advance, anticipating his possible detention ahead of the October 10 demonstration demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Who is Ajinkya Shinde?

According to news reports, Ajinkya Shinde is an Indian activist, social media personality, and political organizer who serves as the National Organisation In-Charge for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Originally from Latur in Maharashtra, the 35-year-old holds a B.Tech degree from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University (DBATU). Before joining the CJP, reports indicate he was associated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as part of its national organization-building efforts and served as the convener of its Maharashtra Youth Wing.

Reports highlight that Shinde emerged as a prominent leader during CJP’s regional demonstrations, notably leading the group's Mumbai agitation and spearheading the "School Thik Karo" campaign aimed at improving government school infrastructure. Media coverage brought him into wider national focus when CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, along with leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were detained by Delhi Police ahead of a scheduled protest at Jantar Mantar. Following the detentions, CJP released a pre-recorded video from Dipke handing over the leadership of the nationwide protest movement to Shinde.

The announcement places Shinde at the centre of the organisation's efforts to continue its protest despite the detention of its senior leaders.

Why did Abhijeet Dipke name Ajinkya Shinde to lead the protest?

According to the CJP's statement, Dipke recorded a video on Friday night, October 9, anticipating that Delhi Police might detain him before the planned demonstration.

In the pre-recorded message, Dipke said Shinde would lead the protest for as long as he, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka remained in detention. He also urged supporters watching the video to follow Shinde's leadership.

The arrangement was intended to provide the organisation with a designated leader if its senior figures were unable to attend the demonstration.

On Saturday, Dipke, Das and Ranka were detained shortly after their flight from Mumbai landed at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. Police personnel boarded the aircraft to take them into custody before they could reach Jantar Mantar.

Why is CJP protesting at Jantar Mantar?

The CJP had called for a demonstration on October 10 demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The revision has become a point of political contention, with opposition parties and protesters raising concerns about the removal of eligible voters from electoral rolls. The Election Commission and the government have rejected allegations of political manipulation, maintaining that the exercise is intended to remove duplicate and ineligible entries.

Delhi Police denied permission for the CJP demonstration, citing law and order concerns, the potential inconvenience to residents and procedural requirements for applications to hold protests at Jantar Mantar.

The authorities also referred to alleged past violations of protest conditions, including demonstrations continuing beyond permitted time limits.

Despite the denial of permission, the CJP indicated that it intended to proceed with the protest.

Security tightened across Delhi

Delhi Police increased security across the national capital ahead of the proposed demonstration. Officers were deployed at barricades and major intersections, while traffic restrictions and diversions were announced for several locations in central Delhi.

Areas identified as likely to face disruption included Connaught Place, Mandi House, Jantar Mantar, Patel Chowk, Sansad Marg and nearby intersections.

The detentions extended beyond the three CJP leaders. Other individuals were also detained as authorities attempted to prevent demonstrators from reaching the protest site.

The scale of the security arrangements and the detention of the party's senior leaders became central developments surrounding the planned demonstration.

Can the CJP protest continue without Dipke?

The appointment of Ajinkya Shinde gives the CJP a designated leader for its demonstration while Dipke and the other two leaders remain detained. Dipke's advance recording of the video also indicates that the organisation had anticipated the possibility of preventive action before the protest.

Whether the demonstration can proceed as planned depends on the movement of supporters, police restrictions and the authorities' enforcement of the denial of permission.

The episode also highlights the wider dispute between protest organisers and the authorities over public demonstrations, security arrangements and access to designated protest venues. The CJP's demand concerning electoral-roll revision adds an electoral governance issue to that dispute.

The immediate developments to watch are whether Shinde reaches Jantar Mantar, how many supporters gather, whether police permit any assembly and whether the detained leaders are released.