As the CJP seems to have become calmer, Opposition parties and their leaders appear to have become more aggressive against the BJP ahead of the November 1 rally, centred on three unfulfilled demands of the Opposition: CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, halting the SIR and restoring electoral rolls, and holding elections through paper ballots.
Earlier, there had been instances when the Opposition's attacks on the BJP's face, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, proved counterproductive.
However, Opposition leaders believe this is no longer the case, as they claim a majority of people, including a section of the BJP's own voters, have realised that the country is not progressing as the BJP had promised.
"The Congress and Opposition leaders are hitting out at the BJP's faces because they have realised that they are not being supported by the people but are winning elections through vote theft and, therefore, are holding positions through theft, which makes their standing illegal," a senior Congress leader said.
This understanding within political parties has prompted them to return to their often-tested, yet unsuccessful, political strategy of making Modi the centrepoint of their attacks. They have become confident that the same script will work this time.
Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge recently remarked: "Modi ka baap bhi jayega (even Modi's father will go)"—a statement backed by the majority of Opposition leaders. His own party has bolstered the remark by saying that Modi's ideological father, the RSS, will also go, Pawan Khera recently said, citing Kharge.
Despite becoming the primary mobilising force in the anti-CEC protests, the CJP's public activities have reduced after judicial proceedings led its members to sign peace bonds.
Several experts believe that if it remains out of the scene for long, it might not be able to sustain the momentum it gained at the start of the CJP protests, and might also end up losing its ability to mobilise the youth.
According to political observers, there is pent-up anger among a section of the population against the government, as seen during recent protests. People will therefore try to find ways to take to the streets to express their discontent.
As a result, the Opposition bloc stands to gain the most from the upcoming mobilisations. Particularly the Congress, which statistically fights for the most seats against the BJP in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. As a result, the downswing in the saffron camp's popularity will directly help the Congress to find its much-needed upward swing in its voter base numbers.
When THE WEEK spoke to several Congress leaders across the country, many expressed their eagerness to join the protest, including district presidents, legislators and parliamentarians.
"There is an open invitation to all. We will not only go ourselves, but will also take a few more people with us. I believe many district presidents will do the same. We can see the fervour among our workers, too, to join the Delhi march," a district president said.
