Why Indian opposition parties keep contesting elections despite boycott calls over rigging claims

On September 25, Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, urged Indian opposition parties to withdraw from elections if they doubt the Election Commission’s fairness, calling continued participation a logical inconsistency. Former BJP minister RK Singh backed the boycott suggestion, yet no opposition party has taken it seriously. Critics like Congress figure Amitabh Dubey argue that mass mobilisation within the electoral process is more effective than abstention, noting Bangladesh’s 2014 and 2024 boycotts left opposition voiceless and enabled constitutional changes.

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien warned that a boycott would give the BJP a clean sweep, allowing it to amend the constitution and betray party workers. Additional concerns include loss of local funding streams and the risk of the ruling party fostering proxy organisations. Consequently, opposition leaders favour contesting elections while demanding reforms for free and fair polls.