Haryana lawyer submits application for registering CJP as official political party

New Delhi: A Haryana lawyer has submitted an application for registering satirical 'Cockroach Janta Party' as a political party, claiming that he is its national convenor and he took the step as its founder Abhijeet Dipke refuse to come to India and convert it into a proper political movement.

Sudhir Jakhar, who is based in Panipat, said he submitted the application on May 22, a week after Dipke launched accounts of CJP on social media platforms following Chief Justice of India Surya Kant's controversial remarks, which the latter claimed was misrepresented.

The 'X' account of CJP was withheld last Thursday even as several politicians like Shashi Tharoor and Mahua Moitra came out in its support.

Jakhar told DH that he initiated the action to register the party as Boston-based Dipke did not come to the country. He said he was a student leader and was associated with farmers' protest and that he will submit some fresh documents for registration on Wednesday.

He said they went ahead with the registration process as they fear that someone else may file an application and misuse it, leading to the fizzling out of the movement.

In his letter to the EC, Jakhar presented himself as the National Convenor of the CJP and sought its registration as a political party under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

The letter said that the proposed political movement has emerged as a people-centric democratic initiative dedicated towards community service, constitutional awareness, social accountability, environmental protection, animal welfare, transparency in government and promotion of fundamental duties.

It said the CJP seeks to work peacefully and constitutionally for strengthen democratic participation and public accountability, social audit of governance mechanisms and public authorities, protection of environment, bio-diversity, flora and fauna, prevention of cruelty against animals, legal awareness regarding rights, whistleblower protection, promotion of transparency and safeguarding communal harmony among others.

While the registration of a party is optional, it enables a political outfit to claim certain benefits under law such as accepting donations. Similarly, under Election Symbols Order, certain symbols are reserved for a recognised party for the exclusive allotment to a candidate of that party.