Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is ruling the state for the second consecutive term since 19 March 2017 with Yogi Adityanath as Chief Minister. BJP had defeated Samajwadi Party led by Akhilesh Yadav, who recently has joined a satirical group Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and posted in social media X “BJP banam CJP” that is “BJP versus CJP” which has implied reference to Uttar Pradesh elections.

It is worth noting that the Cockroach Janata Party came into existence on May 16, after the controversial remark made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on May 15, "There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don't get any employment or have any place in profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, RTI activists and other activists and they start attacking everyone.” CJP’s membership has surpassed the BJP’s social media membership within five days of its establishment, that may indicate a threat to the BJP, especially in the Uttar Pradesh elections. Akhilesh Yadav’s post “BJP banam CJP” is therefore significant. As of May 20, CJP membership had crossed 350,000, and spread to several states of the country including Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh Yadav’s identifying himself with them has created another sensation in the state, that is the largest populated in the country with the largest number of unemployed, who are satirically called cockroaches.

Another layer of the political heat was added by the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi when he took swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for gifting toffee to Prime Minister of Italy Ms Giorgia Meloni. On X, Rahul Gandhi posted, “An economic storm is raging over our heads, and our Prime Minister is busy handing out candies in Italy!”

Not only that, Rahul further alleged that farmers, youth, women, labourers and small traders were facing hardships while “the PM is laughing and making reels, and BJP members are calling … This is not leadership, this is nautanki (farce).”

BJP strongly criticised Rahul Gandhi over his remark mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s gift of “Melody” toffees to Italian Prime Minister calling his statement “irresponsible” and regrettable”. BJP leaders accused Rahul Gandhi of displaying an “anarchic mindset” and frustration due to continuous electoral losses.

BJP spokesperson demanded an unconditional apology from Rahul Gandhi accusing him of insulting Prime Minister and harming India’s diplomatic image. Union Minister Piyush Goyal and others accused Gandhi of “hating India’s achievement”. One of the BJP’s spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari even alleged that Gandhi’s language was similar to that of “urban Naxals” and accused him of attacking 140 crore Indians.

Next came the fiercest attack on BJP leaders and RSS by Rahul Gandhi. Addressing Bahujan Swabhiman Sabha in Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh on May 20, which was organised to commemorate a local revolutionary Veera Pasi, Rahul Gandhi said, “When you go back home, when these RSS workers come to you, they will talk about Narendra Modi, they will talk about Amit Shah. You look them in the face and say, ‘Your Prime Minister is a traitor, your home minister is a traitor, your organisation is a traitor. You have worked to sell out India. You have attacked our organisation, our Constitution, BR Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.’ Tell them this.” Rahul Gandhi also said that the ‘traitors” were “attacking the Constitution” every day and had sold the country’s interests to select industrialists.

BJP leaders also criticised Rahul Gandhi for his attack on Modi, Shah and RSS. CM Adityanath wrote in a post on X, “The unbridled remarks made by the Congress’s ‘Crown Prince’ expose his negative brand of politics, his lack of restraint in thought, and his disregard for democratic values.” He also said that Rahul’s comments amounted to an insult to the mandate, trust and democratic ethos of the country’s citizens, adding “The Congress’s ‘Crown Prince’ must publicly apologise to the entire country for his objectionable, unparliamentary, and frustration-driven statement.”

BJP president Nitin Nabin sharply attacked Rahul Gandhi as the “Rahu of Indian politics” accusing him of “anarchic and divisive mindset” and of “polluting and dirtying” the country’s political discourse. In his counter attack, Nabin asked, “Those who put a leash on terrorism and eradicated Naxalism — are they traitors? Or those who sheltered terrorism and promoted Naxalism — are they the traitors?” Nabin also alleged that the Congress has become a “private limited company”.

All these indicate that Uttar Pradesh is heading for a tougher political battle between the BJP and INDIA bloc compared to Lok Sabha election 2024, when SP had won 37, Congress 6, and BJP 33 seats out of 80. However, the question is: Will SP and Congress remain united? After the Tamil Nadu election result when Congress had left DMK led alliance to join TVK, Akhilesh had posted on X, “We are not the ones who abandon (allies) in times of difficulty.” (IPA Service)