How CJP turns up heat on Bengal BJP government: Schools to row over death of activist’s father

Following the death of CJP activist Abdul Hafiz’s father Sheikh Mohammad Mafiq, the outfit has targeted the Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government, stepping into Bengal’s Opposition space. (Photo: Partha Paul) 7 min readKolkataAug 23, 2026 07:11 AM IST First published on: Aug 23, 2026 at 07:11 AM IST The row over the death of a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) volunteer’s father following a school inspection drive seems to have given the Abhijeet Dipke-led outfit a foothold in West Bengal, where the CJP is now planning to expand its base to take on the recently elected BJP government. The CJP’s expansion efforts come at a time when Bengal’s principal Opposition party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), is a depleted and divided force, with a majority of its MPs and MLAs either joining the BJP-led NDA or forming separate blocs. The Congress and the CPI(M) in the state, too, have a marginal presence in the Assembly and are yet to launch a significant movement against the BJP in the state.