Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokespersons Ashutosh Ranka
Neither Ranka nor SP offered a detailed account of what was discussed during the 90-minute meeting. Chaudhary said that the issue of the alleged closure of 26,000 primary schools in Uttar Pradesh by BJP govt, which SP has been raising for more than a year, also came up during the discussion, among other matters. The issue gained prominence on July 24, 2025, when Akhilesh Yadav accused BJP govt of shutting down 26,000 schools while opening 27,000 new liquor outlets in the state. More recently, the SP chief has said the party would reopen the closed schools if voted to power in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections, and that the promise would feature prominently in its manifesto. On Aug 15, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke launched a nationwide initiative around the issue. Ranka drew attention on Aug 21, when he and other CJP members were allegedly attacked while travelling to inspect a govt school in Rampura Kanwarpura village near Jaipur in Rajasthan.
However, people familiar with the matter said the visit was projected primarily as a thanksgiving gesture for Samajwadi Party’s support to the CJP-backed protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Ranka conveyed gratitude on behalf of the organisation to Akhilesh Yadav and Mainpuri MP Dimple Yadav for their participation and support at the Jantar Mantar protest, according to him. political observers said the convergence on education and govt schooling could be a significant point of contact between SP and CJP, particularly as education issues are seen as resonating strongly with younger voters, including Gen Z and Gen Alpha While Chaudhary did not elaborate further on specifics. In the months that followed, SP workers held “PDA Pathshalas” at sites of closed schools, actions that led to police cases against some participants, and the party later raised the matter in the state assembly and in Parliament.
SP national secretary and spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary described the interaction as a courtesy call. After the Jantar Mantar protest, CJP has also sharpened its focus on govt schools across India.
CJP Affirms Non-Political Stance Amid SP Meeting
Ranka confirmed that the Chief Justice Party (CJP) is not planning to engage in electoral politics at this time, following a meeting in Lucknow. He emphasized that there are no immediate intentions to contest elections. The meeting occurred after several invitations from the Samajwadi Party (SP) leadership, with Akhilesh Yadav specifically encouraging the CJP to convene. ‘We came to Lucknow in response to these invitations,’ Ranka stated.