BJP on backfoot after Jantar Mantar: CPI-M chief M.A. Baby
Synopsis
CPI-M chief M.A. Baby has gone on the offensive, declaring BJP 'on the backfoot' after the Jantar Mantar student movement forced the government to approach the Supreme Court for FIR withdrawal — a move Baby frames as a political capitulation that, combined with the Bankipur bypoll loss, signals a new phase of opposition momentum.
Key Takeaways
CPI-M General Secretary M.A.
Baby on 4 September declared BJP is on the 'backfoot' following the Jantar Mantar student protest outcome.
The protest's 'symbolic victory' included the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a Supreme Court directive squashing FIRs against student protesters.
Baby cited the BJP's loss in Bankipur, Bihar — a seat previously held by BJP state chief Nitin Nabin — as further evidence of the party's political slide.
He called India's GDP growth of 7.8 per cent in the April–June quarter 'fudged accounting,' citing economists including Raghuram Rajan .
Baby described the last Parliament session as a 'washout' and said the CPI-M Politburo is preparing for possible political developments around a special session.
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) General Secretary M.A. Baby on Friday, 4 September declared that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on the 'backfoot' following the Jantar Mantar student protest, which he described as culminating in a 'symbolic victory' — marked by the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Baby's Core Charge Against BJP
Speaking to reporters ahead of a CPI-M Politburo meeting in New Delhi, Baby said the student agitation had exposed the BJP's vulnerabilities. 'BJP has suffered a setback because of Jantar Mantar students' struggle victory. One of the agreements was that all the fabricated cases on peacefully agitating students will be withdrawn. But then the government backed out from that offer,' he said.
He further noted that after student organisations announced a follow-up demonstration for 5 September, the government moved swiftly to the Supreme Court, requesting it to direct the withdrawal of all cases. The apex court subsequently ordered the squashing of FIRs lodged against student protesters across various states, following which the planned agitation was called off.
Bihar Bypoll and Party Desertions
Baby also pointed to the BJP's loss in Bankipur, a constituency in Bihar previously held by BJP state chief Nitin Nabin, as further evidence of the party's political slide. 'People are deserting BJP and Congress, fascist tactics of RSS are not going to work. Students and youth declared that they are fearless,' he said, adding that 'a new political situation has emerged in the country.'
He argued this emerging political landscape would prove 'good for secularism and democracy.'
GDP Growth Figures Called 'Fudged'
Turning to the economy, Baby dismissed India's reported GDP growth of 7.8 per cent in the April–June quarter as 'fudged accounting.' He cited former Finance Secretary-level commentary and economists, including Raghuram Rajan, as having 'exposed the hollowness' of the figures. 'The so-called amazing growth rate that is being shown through the GDP statistics, it is fudged accounting,' he claimed, attributing the critique to the way statistics are selectively deployed.
Politburo Meet and Parliament Session
Baby noted that the CPI-M Politburo convenes regularly to assess the political situation. He described the last Parliament session as 'a washout,' saying the ruling party was unwilling to allow the Opposition to raise key issues. He added that reports of a possible special session with a specific agenda were being tracked, and the party would 'prepare ourselves to face the political developments that may evolve in the coming days.'
The CPI-M's remarks signal that left-wing opposition parties intend to sustain pressure on the BJP heading into what could be a politically charged parliamentary calendar.
Point of View
The Bankipur loss, and GDP credibility questions into a single narrative, CPI-M is attempting to define a post-protest political moment before the BJP can reclaim it. The GDP 'fudged accounting' charge, however, rests on opposition assertions rather than a formal audit — and conflating political critique with statistical methodology risks undermining an otherwise pointed argument. What the statement really signals is that the left sees the student movement as a rare pressure point capable of uniting diverse opposition energies, and intends to ride it into any special parliamentary session that follows.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did CPI-M's M.A. Baby say about BJP after the Jantar Mantar protest?
M.A. Baby declared on 4 September that the BJP is on the 'backfoot' following the Jantar Mantar student protest, which he said ended in a 'symbolic victory' — including the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a Supreme Court order to quash FIRs against student protesters.
Why were FIRs against Jantar Mantar student protesters withdrawn?
After student organisations announced a fresh demonstration for 5 September over the government's failure to withdraw cases, the government approached the Supreme Court, which directed the squashing of FIRs lodged against protesters in various states. The planned agitation was subsequently called off.
What did Baby say about India's GDP growth of 7.8 per cent?
Baby dismissed the figure as 'fudged accounting,' claiming it had been 'exposed' by economists including former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan. He argued that selective use of statistics inflates the headline growth number.
Which bypoll loss did M.A. Baby reference, and why?
Baby cited the BJP's loss in Bankipur, Bihar — a constituency previously represented by BJP state president Nitin Nabin — as evidence that voters are 'deserting BJP and Congress' amid what he called a new political situation in the country.
What is the CPI-M Politburo meeting focused on?
According to Baby, the Politburo met to assess the overall political situation, including the 'washout' last Parliament session and reports of a possible special session being planned by the ruling party. He said CPI-M is preparing to respond to political developments in the coming days.
