Who is Ajinkya Shinde? The CJP organiser leading Delhi’s Jantar Mantar protest after Dipke’s detention

Organiser Ajinkya Shinde has stepped into the spotlight to lead demonstrations in New Delhi on behalf of the Cockroach Janta Party, following the detention of party founder Abhijeet Dipke and other senior figures, Gulf News reported.

Police intercepted Dipke along with party members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on Saturday morning immediately after their flight from Mumbai landed at Delhi airport. The leaders had traveled to the capital to spearhead a rally at Jantar Mantar seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged errors in the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls.

Anticipating potential action by law enforcement, Dipke had recorded a video on Friday announcing that Shinde would direct the protest if top leadership was detained. The party later verified on social media that Shinde was in temporary command until the detained executives were freed.

Shinde, who holds the position of national organising in-charge, quickly circulated an online video appealing to followers to keep moving toward the planned protest site. Speaking from a vehicle, he asserted that demonstrators would treat any place they were blocked by Delhi Police as their protest ground.

The 35-year-old organiser from Latur, Maharashtra, holds an engineering degree from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University. Named to his national post in August 2026, he has primarily functioned behind the scenes, managing operations in Mumbai and directing the party's "School Thik Karo" effort. He was also involved in demonstrations at Mumbai's Shivaji Park and faces charges in a police first information report alongside Dipke, Das, Ranka, Pranav Ahire, and hundreds of demonstrators.

His emergence has attracted political scrutiny due to prior links with the Aam Aadmi Party. Indian media accounts indicate Shinde formerly served as AAP's youth convener in Maharashtra and as an assistant in-charge in Goa. While Bharatiya Janata Party representative Amit Malviya circulated an image of Shinde alongside AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal to criticise his role, AAP noted that several CJP affiliates previously belonged to their ranks before departing.

The leadership transition unfolded amidst intense security operations across New Delhi, where authorities had refused permission for the rally. Police reported holding roughly 500 individuals who arrived in clusters, while other estimates suggested over 1,500 people were detained. The party additionally stated that YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained at his Gurugram residence. Clashes were documented near Akashwani Bhawan, where authorities reported two officers were injured after demonstrators crossed security barriers.