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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Rallies across state back CJP

Several protesters gathered at Dadar, Mumbai, on Monday in support of CJP's Delhi protest. Pic: Bhushan Koyande Mumbai: Endorsing the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)’s massive agitation near the Parliament in New Delhi, lakhs of youth, students and social organizations took to the streets with angry protests, marches and demonstrations almost all over Maharashtra on Monday. Opposition parties in the state including the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and...

Rallies across state back CJP

Several protesters gathered at Dadar, Mumbai, on Monday in support of CJP's Delhi protest. Pic: Bhushan Koyande Mumbai: Endorsing the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)’s massive agitation near the Parliament in New Delhi, lakhs of youth, students and social organizations took to the streets with angry protests, marches and demonstrations almost all over Maharashtra on Monday. Opposition parties in the state including the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena (UBT), along with other smaller outfits either voluntarily joined the protestors or wholeheartedly supported them. The political parties expressed full solidarity with the CJP, flayed the forced hospitalization of environment activist Sonam Wangchuk and expressed anger at the purported undermining of major public examinations beset with multiple leaks of question papers in recent years. The demonstrations attracted thousands of collegians, unemployed youngsters, professionals like lawyers, social activists, civil society members, farmers and others, including a large number of women, as the local police deployed strict security to prevent any untoward incidents. The protestors, carrying banners, placards, the National Tricolour and in some places, copies of the Constitution marched or assembled at various central locations in different cities, including Dadar in Mumbai, respective district headquarters since morning, braving showers or heavy rains in many areas. They ranted anti-government slogans, vociferously demanded the resignation of the Union Education Minister of India Dharmendra Pradhan, seeking what they termed as ‘accountability by those holding public offices’, ‘transparency’, ‘safeguarding their democratic rights’ and ‘mutual dialogue’ to resolve such contentious issues. In some districts, the gatherings also condemned the forcible eviction of Wangchuk to a government hospital two days ago, and lashed out the Delhi Police for lobbing teargas shells and mild lathi-charge on the protestors who reached very close to the Parliament – where the Monsoon Session 2026 opened on Monday. Constitutional Rights Speakers at the venues accused the government of allegedly suppressing the Constitutional right to peaceful protests through high-handed means, warning it could deepen public resentment rather than solving the problems the masses raised. Though the emotionally-charged protests in the state remained largely disciplined and peaceful, in some places like Mumbai, a few demonstrators were detained in the afternoon for not adhering to police directives. In Mumbai, the participants included mostly students, young professionals, retired citizens and civil society groups, while the district-level rallies elsewhere drew significant presence of the local youth, farmers organisations and social activists. The vigorous campaigns were carried out in the capital Mumbai and second capital Nagpur, besides Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nandurbar, Dhule, Jalgaon, Akola, Amravati, Dhule, Ahilyanagar, Solapur, Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Jalna, Nanded, Parbhani, Hingoli, Wardha, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Bhandara, Washim, Yavatmal and Buldhana. Thackeray slams Centre Ex-Chief Minister and SS (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray took potshots at the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government saying “they can hold talks with Pakistan, but not our youth”. His party MP Sanjay Raut alleged that ‘one word’ by a top judge had sparked a nationwide unrest for the past two months, igniting the youth to question the BJP governments at the Centre and in states. Many irate youngsters told the media that the exam reforms centric campaign has now transformed into a broader nationwide movement for debates on civil liberties, dissent and democratic rights of the citizens, and they would continue till their aims are achieved. Hundreds gather in Nagpur to support CJP Hundreds of students, youth and senior citizens staged an agitation in Nagpur on Monday in support of activist Sonam Wangchuk and the Cockroach Janta Party's protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Chanting anti-government slogans over alleged exam paper leaks, angry demonstrators, including students and senior citizens, gathered at Samvidhan Square and vowed to press ahead with their agitation until the education minister steps down. Protesters expressed outrage over the forcible removal of Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar in the national capital and the lathi-charge on students during their march to Parliament. Holding placards, banners and photos of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, demonstrators gathered at the site amid heavy police deployment. One of the young demonstrators said that their agitation will continue till the education minister resigns.

‘Ajit dada was to lead unified NCP from Feb 12’

Mumbai: Just as the dust seemed to be settling on the failed attempts to merge the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a fresh controversy has erupted, reigniting the political drama. In a startling revelation, NCP (SP) State President Shashikant Shinde has claimed that a secret deal had already been finalized to hand over the entire command of a unified party to the late Ajit Pawar—an announcement that was reportedly scheduled for February 12.


Shinde’s comments have added a sensational twist to the post-tragedy narrative, painting the late Deputy Chief Minister not as a rebel, but as a leader who was on the verge of a "homecoming" before tragedy struck.


In commemorative editorial of a party magazine, Shashikant Shinde sought to rewrite the history of the split that fractured the Pawar family. He alleged that Ajit Pawar’s exit from the original NCP was never voluntary but was forced by threats and conspiracies orchestrated by "invisible powers"—a veiled reference to the BJP’s central leadership.


Shinde further claimed that discussions for a merger were in advanced stages. In fact, a final decision had been reached in the presence of Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar and other senior leaders. It was agreed that once the factions merged, the entire command of the unified NCP would be handed over to Ajit Pawar. The formal announcement was to be made on February 12.


Shinde’s narrative attempts to position the NCP (SP) as the true custodian of Ajit Pawar’s legacy, suggesting that the late leader was ready to return to his uncle’s fold to lead the party into the future, had fate not intervened.


Tatkare’s Rebuttal

The claims were swiftly dismissed by the rival camp. NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) State President Sunil Tatkare rubbished Shinde’s version of events, categorizing them as emotional manipulation devoid of facts.


"There is no point in discussing imaginary scenarios," Tatkare said. "We are a part of the Mahayuti government, and our path was chosen by Ajit Dada himself."

However, Tatkare stopped short of a complete shut-door policy, adding a caveat that keeps the political grapevine buzzing. "If they are so serious about a merger, let them stop making statements to the media. The issue of merger can be discussed only if a proposal comes in writing from those advocating it," he asserted.

Political analysts view Shashikant Shinde’s "February 12" claim as a strategic move by the Sharad Pawar faction to absolve Ajit Pawar by blaming "invisible powers" for the split. In doing so, they are trying to reclaim Ajit Pawar’s image from the BJP-aligned faction. Also, by suggesting that Ajit Pawar was ready to leave the NDA and return to Sharad Pawar, they aim to sow confusion among the MLAs currently supporting Sunetra Pawar.

As the "merger" moves from backroom talks to public spats, the war of words proves that while the possibility of unity may be bleak, the battle for the NCP’s soul is far from over.

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