Srinagar, Aug 18: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has received an invitation to enter mainstream politics, with Union Minister Ramdas Athawale urging him to join the Republican Party of India (A) and work towards advancing the ideals of Dr B R Ambedkar.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Athawale described Dipke as a young and active Ambedkarite and said he should consider joining the RPI (A), which is part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre.
“I think Abhijeet Dipke is an Ambedkarite. He is active and young. He should consider joining Republican Party of India (A),” Athawale said.
Athawale also said the government believed that those found guilty of wrongdoing should face punishment, apparently referring to the CJP-led and student protests held at Jantar Mantar last month over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination.
“We are a government that believes people should be punished if they do wrong. So, he should join the ruling faction,” he said.
Dipke has not yet responded to Athawale’s invitation. He has previously maintained that he has no intention of entering electoral politics and that the CJP should continue as a public movement rather than transform into a political party.
Earlier this month, Dipke said growing public distrust in political parties and the electoral system had reinforced his belief that the country needed a broader public movement.
“We have no such intention. We are seeing how political parties are being split using the ED and CBI. Votes are being deleted in elections. At this point, when people have lost faith in politics, what will we do by forming a political party?” he had said.
Dipke had also voiced concern over declining public confidence in institutions, including the judiciary, electoral system and media, arguing that the country needed a sustained public movement rather than another political outfit. (with inputs from agencies)
