This week on Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Rinchen Norbu are joined by veteran journalist Neerja Chowdhury. 

The panel discusses the political turmoil within the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the state of the opposition, and the changing nature of protests in India – including whether the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest slated for June 6 at Jantar Mantar in Delhi will succeed.

Discussing the crisis unfolding in West Bengal, Neerja Chowdhury argues that the rapid fragmentation of a recently defeated party is a relatively new phenomenon in Indian politics.

“It is very unusual what happened in West Bengal. Normally, you sit in the opposition, wait for your turn and fight back. This unraveling of a defeated party is a new phenomenon that we are seeing,” she says.

The panel also debates whether the BJP's dominance is primarily the result of opposition failures or deeper structural advantages. Defending Rahul Gandhi's role in national politics, Neerja remarks, “Rahul Gandhi is probably the most courageous man in India today in terms of how he takes on the Prime Minister. The problem, as somebody told me, is a communication disconnect – the way he expresses his ideas doesn’t always resonate with people.”

Anand Vardhan, however, disagrees with viewing opposition politics through the lens of courage. He argues that political leaders operate within structures of incentives and responsibilities rather than purely moral acts of bravery.

“I would not say that is courage. That is his role. Anything that has incentives attached to it is not courageous for me. Courage is something very different,” he says, while also pointing to the structural vulnerabilities of regional parties that often depend heavily on power and personality-driven leadership.

Manisha Pande highlights what she sees as a shift in public sentiment towards the Modi government. While Narendra Modi’s appeal in 2014 was rooted in the perception that he was an independent and decisive leader, there is now a growing feeling that citizens are not being heard.

“I think the big sentiment today is that people want someone to listen to them. This government does not listen is something you hear repeatedly. There is a growing frustration with centralisation and communication that only goes one way,” she says.

The conversation then turns to the role of protest in a democracy, particularly in the context of planned demonstrations by online political satirists and student groups. Reflecting on the importance of dissent, Neerja says, “The soul of a nation dies if you cannot speak out. If you cannot express to your ruler that you are hurting, then something fundamental is lost.”

The panel examines whether the growing frustration among young Indians is translating into meaningful political mobilisation, and speculates how the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest slated for June 6 will turn out. 

Anand Vardhan cautions against romanticising Gen Z-led protests, arguing that many contemporary movements are heavily shaped by digital ecosystems and often lack the organisational depth of traditional grassroots campaigns.

“These are movements that are heavily online and tailored for digital users. We should be careful about assuming that they automatically translate into grassroots mobilisation,” he says.

While acknowledging the anger driving young people to speak out on issues such as examination paper leaks and institutional failures, Anand argues that online visibility alone cannot substitute for the structures required to sustain long-term political movements.

Adding to the discussion, Rinchen Norbu points out that many digital-first protests lack experienced organisers and institutional support systems. As a result, he says, such movements are often vulnerable to disruption, manipulation and even “false flag” operations that can derail their objectives.

All this and more.