The Indian Youth Congress has been at the forefront of protests against alleged NEET paper leaks, seeking to harness growing anti-government sentiment for electoral gains. While the non-political Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) gained significant attention, the Congress is running its own outreach campaign, 'Chatron Ki Goonj,' to connect with students and assert its position as the main opposition. Party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have criticized the government's handling of the issue and cracked down on protesting students, aiming to pressure the administration. This strategic move by the Congress could potentially mirror the impact of past social movements on electoral outcomes, though the party faces challenges in states like Punjab and competition from other opposition parties like the AAP.

The Indian Youth Congress has been at the forefront of protests against alleged NEET paper leaks, seeking to harness growing anti-government sentiment for electoral gains. While the non-political Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) gained significant attention, the Congress is running its own outreach campaign, 'Chatron Ki Goonj,' to connect with students and assert its position as the main opposition. Party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have criticized the government's handling of the issue and cracked down on protesting students, aiming to pressure the administration. This strategic move by the Congress could potentially mirror the impact of past social movements on electoral outcomes, though the party faces challenges in states like Punjab and competition from other opposition parties like the AAP.

The Indian Youth Congress has been at the forefront of protests against alleged NEET paper leaks, seeking to harness growing anti-government sentiment for electoral gains. While the non-political Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) gained significant attention, the Congress is running its own outreach campaign, 'Chatron Ki Goonj,' to connect with students and assert its position as the main opposition. Party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have criticized the government's handling of the issue and cracked down on protesting students, aiming to pressure the administration. This strategic move by the Congress could potentially mirror the impact of past social movements on electoral outcomes, though the party faces challenges in states like Punjab and competition from other opposition parties like the AAP.

The Indian Youth Congress was the first to organise rallies and protests against the alleged NEET paper leaks on May 13, even before the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) was formed. However, the CJP, which brands itself as a non-political movement, grabbed most of the limelight as the protests gained momentum in the months that followed. 

Political analysts believe that the growing anti-government sentiment could still benefit the Congress electorally. The Opposition party has not actively propagated the CJP's campaign. One reason is that the Congress has been running its own campaign, Chatron Ki Goonj, aimed at reaching out to students and strengthening its connect with the youth, particularly Gen Z. Secondly, the party doesn't want the CJP to occupy ownership of opposition space. This is why the grand old party has maintained its own line on the issue and taken up students' concerns separately. 

The Congress has found itself in a stronger position to retain its primacy in the Opposition space by targeting the government after police used lathicharge and tear gas against protesting students. Party leader Rahul Gandhi has termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the "most anti-youth PM" in India's history and accused the government of not just failing the youth, but also cracking down on those who raise their voice.

On Tuesday evening, the Congress leaders staged a sit-in protest outside the prime minister's residence to build greater political pressure on the government. While the protest may have broadened political support for the students' movement, it has also brought the Congress back to the forefront as the principal political opponent of the government.

Many analysts cite the example of the Anna Hazare-led anti-corruption movement against the then UPA government before the 2014 elections, arguing that it intensified anti-incumbency sentiment and created a political vacuum that was subsequently filled by the BJP, led by Narendra Modi, which came to power with a clear majority. The movement had also created a strong anti-Congress wave, which eventually helped the BJP to overthrow the grand old party from power in several states.

Many believe the CJP protest could also work on similar lines.

"Those who have been affected by paper leaks, those who have suffered due to issues such as ethanol blending and other concerns — who will they vote for? They are likely to support the party that stands against the BJP, and in most places, that is the Congress party," a political analyst said. 

However, there is a catch-22 situation for Congress in Punjab where the elections are around six months away. The party has been unable to resolve its leadership issues over the past few months and has moved directly to preparations for campaigning against the Aam Aadmi Party-led government. 

The AAP is wary of the Congress trying to take the limelight away from the main movement being spearheaded by the CJP. AAP leader and former Delhi chief minister Atishi questioned Rahul Gandhi's sit- in protest and sought to know how he was allowed to protest outside the PM’s residence when the demonstrations led by the CJP were being suppressed.