Congress stays away, Left & AAP to join CJP stir against CEC

NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party’s invitation to all opposition parties to join its Oct 10 demonstration against EC’s functioning under CEC Gyanesh Kumar saw only the Left, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool and AAP openly backing its agitation. While the Left and AAP have announced their participation, it was not clear till Friday night whether Mamata’s party would be part of the CJP protest.Before she reached Delhi, Mamata had told reporters that she may join the Oct 10 protest at Jantar Mantar, but added that nothing could be confirmed as yet. “We have maintained a relationship with them (CJP) and have extended our support, while any further decision regarding our participation will be taken later,” she had said.The Left, Mamata TMC and AAP had earlier backed and participated in the CJP-led student agitation over the NEET-UG paper leak issue, which led to Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as education minister.AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal will be joining with his family.Amid all this, Congress is keeping its distance from the CJP protest, with Rahul Gandhi to be in Chennai for the next edition of ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ Saturday.“I appeal to everyone in the country to reach Jantar Mantar in the largest possible numbers. This is not about any one individual or political party; this is about the country. The protest at Jantar Mantar begins Saturday. I will be there, and my entire family will join me. Everyone should come there,” Kejriwal said.

On Friday, CPM general secretary MA Baby went all out to file a petition in Supreme Court challenging the restrictions imposed ahead of Saturday’s protest, while TMC national spokesperson Saket Gokhale wrote to acting Chief Justice of Delhi HC seeking suo motu cognisance of cancellation of railway services and closure of metro stations.Sharing the letter on X, Gokhale extended “full support” to CJP and “every citizen demanding free and fair elections”. TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien also put out a post strongly supporting CJP. Left parties CPM, CPI, CPI(ML)L, RSP and All India Forward Bloc issued a joint statement asserting that the right to assemble and protest is a fundamental right.“We have been in the protest all these days. That will continue tomorrow too,” Baby told TOI emphasising that the Left will be present in full force at the protest.