A former Aam Aadmi Celebration (AAP) employee who went on to create the Cockroach Janta Celebration (CJP) has now edged previous his former boss Arvind Kejriwal as the popular alternative for the prime ministerial chair, in keeping with the India Today-Cvoter Mood of the Nation (MOTN) survey. CJP founder and convenor Abhijeet Dipke has emerged as a extra most popular alternative for the submit of Prime Minister than AAP chief Kejriwal, with the most recent MOTN survey placing Dipke at 1.3% towards Kejriwal’s 1.2%.
The distinction could also be solely 0.1 share level, however the political symbolism is tough to overlook. Dipke, who labored with the AAP’s communications team under Kejriwal’s leadership from 2020 to 2023, has in current months reworked himself from a political communications skilled into the face of a youth-driven stress motion. Dipke’s rise has now positioned him marginally forward of the person for whom he as soon as labored when respondents have been requested who they thought was greatest suited to grow to be India’s subsequent Prime Minister.
The Temper of the Nation is a bi-annual survey that is been commissioned by the India Right now Group for round twenty years now. The August 2026 version was carried out by CVoter with a pattern of 25,184 individuals immediately surveyed between July 1 and August 25. One other set of 91,795 interviews carried out during the last six months as a part of CVoter’s common monitoring have been additionally used to formulate the findings of the August Temper of the Nation 2026.
Whereas Dipke’s 1.3% is a comparatively small quantity in contrast with the main contenders, his place turns into putting when positioned alongside Kejriwal’s. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stays the overwhelming favorite, with 48.7% of respondents selecting him as the most effective suited to be the following PM. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi follows at 27.1%, whereas Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who has emerged as a serious political pressure after coming into electoral politics, is third with 9.2%.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is at 2%, adopted by Samajwadi Celebration chief Akhilesh Yadav at 1.7%. Dipke, at 1.3%, is subsequent, who’s narrowly forward of Kejriwal at 1.2%.
AFTER RAHUL GANDHI, VIJAY MOST-PREFERRED OPPOSITION LEADER CHOICE
When requested who among the many present Opposition leaders is greatest suited to guide the Opposition alliance? Kejriwal’s reputation has been depreciating and one other newcomer, Vijay, has made a a lot greater impression.
Rahul Gandhi continues to dominate the Opposition leadership choice with 29%, up marginally from 28.6% in January 2026. Vijay, who was not among the many listed selections in earlier editions, enters the desk at 12.2% and instantly takes the second place. Mamata Banerjee is third at 8.5%, whereas Kejriwal stands at 7.5%.
Kejriwal’s 7.5% choice because the Opposition alliance’s potential chief is itself larger than his PM choice, however it represents solely a fraction of the help loved by Rahul Gandhi. Extra importantly, the most recent figures put the protege Dipke, who was moulded underneath his mentorship, forward of him when respondents have been requested concerning the subsequent PM.
Dipke’s political journey has been phenomenal. The 30-year-old activist rose to prominence after remarks by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) describing unemployed youth as “cockroaches” and “parasites” triggered anger amongst sections of younger individuals. Dipke, to the CJI’s remarks, responded by creating a satirical social media outfit referred to as the Cockroach Janta Celebration in Might. What started as satire shortly grew right into a wider youth motion, drawing consideration far past its authentic social-media identification.
Because the motion gained momentum, CJP positioned itself across the frustration of younger individuals over the Nationwide-Entrance-cum-Eligibity-Take a look at Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2026 paper leak and alleged irregularities within the training system.
CJP RAISED ISSUE OF PAPER LEAK, MOTN FOUND TRACTION ON CORRUPTION
The Dipke-led CJP organised a protest at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar beginning June 6 — Dipke landed from Boston on the identical day — demanding accountability and the resignation of then Union Schooling Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The agitation continued for 45 days and attracted help from totally different sections — largely from Gen Z, with social activist Sonam Wangchuk undertaking a 26-day fast. The protest culminated on July 25 after Pradhan resigned as Schooling Minister and the Centre accepted a number of of CJP’s calls for.
Since then, the CJP has taken the form of a stress group. Its ongoing ‘Faculty Thik Karo’ (repair the varsity) marketing campaign launched on August 15 is now specializing in auditing authorities faculties and demanding improvements in their functioning.
The August MOTN discovered that 43% of those surveyed said corruption increased under the NDA authorities. That could possibly be a results of the protests and discussions on paper leaks. Unemployment, one other subject mentioned at CJP’s Jantar Mantar protest, was polled as the most important failure of the NDA authorities.
DIPKE IS KEJRIWAL’S PROXY ALLEGED BJP, MAKES MOTN RESULT INTERESTING
But Dipke’s previous affiliation with the AAP stays a political speaking level. He has by no means rejected claims that he labored for the occasion between 2020 and 2023. BJP leaders and critics of CJP have repeatedly alleged that the organisation is successfully a proxy for Kejriwal’s occasion.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju lately alleged in an interview with ANI that the CJP motion had been “hijacked” by the AAP, pointing to Dipke’s previous affiliation with the occasion. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has additionally made related allegations, questioning Dipke’s international journey and alleged funding hyperlinks.
The most recent MOTN survey would amuse those that have been levelling these fees. The previous AAP employee has now, at the very least marginally, moved forward of Kejriwal himself within the public’s choice for the nation’s high political submit. This would possibly equally shock those that allege Kejriwal is the guru (mentor) of Dipke.
For Dipke, the 0.1%-point edge may be modest. However for a motion that started as a satirical “occasion” constructed across the anger of younger Indians, it’s a excessive level.
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