Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has been invited to join a political party in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) faction by Union minister Ramdas Athawale.
Athawale, who heads the Republican Party of India (Athawale), an NDA ally, said Dipke should consider joining his party and work towards fulfilling the vision of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Dipke has not reacted to the offer so far. However, earlier he made his position on electoral politics clear in the past. The CJP founder has said he does not want to contest elections or turn the movement into a political party, arguing that people are increasingly losing faith in politics and the election system and even the media and that this country needs a public movement.
Speaking to reporters, Athawale called Dipke as a young and active Ambedkarite and said he should consider joining the Republican Party of India (Athawale).
"I think Abhijeet Dipke is an Ambedkarite. He is active and young. He should consider joining Republic Party of India (A)," Athawale said.
The RPI (Athawale) is part of the BJP-led NDA at the Centre.
Athawale also said that people who do wrong should face punishment and urged Dipke to join the ruling alliance.
''We are a government that believes people should be punished if they do wrong. So, he should join the ruling faction,'' he said.
His comments appear to come in the backdrop of the CJP and student-led protests at Jantar Mantar last month. The protests were linked to demands for action over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case and other examination-related irregularities. Dharmendra Pradhan later resigned as Union education minister.
Meanwhile, the CJP founder Dpike has continued to focus on education and other public issues.
On Saturday, Dipke launched the "School Thik Karo" campaign from his native village in Maharashtra's Hingoli district. The campaign seeks better facilities in government schools and action on rising private school fees.
Dipke in his latest X post wrote,''All those working in the education department, including Ministers, officials, principals and teachers, should enrol their own children in govt schools. Then watch how quickly our govt schools magically improve. Why do all of them enrol their kids in private schools? Do they not trust their own work?.''
