In recent months, India has witnessed a surge in protests that some analysts believe have punctured the long-standing image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as an unassailable political force. The protests, spearheaded by a group known as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), began in July at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar site and initially focused on exam paper leaks and demands for the resignation of the education minister. This agitation marked a departure from India’s traditional slow-burning protest culture, with demonstrators adopting a more immediate and forceful approach.
The CJP’s demands have since expanded to target Gyanesh Kumar, India’s chief election commissioner, following allegations reported in late September that he orchestrated a significant purge of voter rolls. Unlike the earlier protests that led to the education minister’s resignation, the CJP insists that Kumar’s departure must also be accompanied by Modi’s exit, interpreting the accusations as a fundamental compromise of the electoral system’s integrity.
The government’s response to these protests has been characterized by heightened repression. Authorities undertook widespread arrests of protesters and journalists, employed physical force against demonstrators, and imposed internet shutdowns in the capital. Measures to hinder protest organisation included detaining key CJP leaders such as Abhijeet Dipke upon their arrival at Delhi airport, and issuing bans on gatherings at traditional protest venues like Jantar Mantar.
Despite the absence of CJP leadership on the ground during key demonstrations—often as a result of preventive detention—protests persisted, sustained by left-wing student groups, activists affiliated with opposition parties, and notable figures such as Neha Bora, Aishe Ghosh, and Gurmehar Kaur. On October 12, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi mobilized large crowds in Delhi, with security forces reportedly deploying some 90,000 personnel to control the rallies and intercept activists traveling to the city.
Authorities’ efforts to restrict assembly extended to the symbolic closure and heavy fortification of Central Park in Connaught Place on October 16, following a call by the CJP for a flag-waving event. Security deployments included hundreds of companies of the Central Armed Police Forces and units of the Rapid Action Force, reflecting the government’s anxiety over the scale of public dissent. Both Dipke and Bora were detained en route to this event, with concerns raised about their treatment and access to legal counsel.
These protests underscore a notable shift in the political atmosphere as citizens increasingly mock or challenge the authority of the Modi government. The widespread use of India’s national flag at protests complicates the state’s traditional narrative that brands dissent as anti-national. This development has exposed what some perceive as the government’s waning confidence in its legitimacy.
Additionally, the state has tightened control over digital communication, summoning representatives from Meta and instituting internet blackouts. This has posed challenges to the BJP’s once-dominant online propaganda machinery, which heavily relied on platforms like WhatsApp and X to maintain its influence.
Opposition figures have sought to frame the protests in culturally resonant terms, with Gandhi invoking Hindu imagery associated with Lord Shiva to connect with the majority Hindu population. Meanwhile, Modi’s recent attempts to engage younger voters through events combining devotional music with modern entertainment suggest efforts to reclaim grassroots support, though critics highlight persistent discontent among younger generations who face economic and political disenfranchisement.
Though it remains uncertain whether these protests will unseat the government, they have undeniably galvanized diverse groups against the BJP’s divisive tactics and demonstrated a new willingness among Indians to openly confront authority.