MUMBAI, July 26 -- The student protests demonstrated how a single cause could unite millions of young Indians across the country. But the same spirit of unity eluded Maharashtra's opposition parties, which failed to present a united front against a shared political adversary, the BJP-led ruling alliance. The students' agitation, led by Abhijeet Dipke's Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in New Delhi, was triggered by the NEET exam paper leak and ended with the resignation of the Union education minister on Saturday. Although the constituents of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) backed the CJP's agitation, they failed to coordinate a joint movement, instead organising separate protests across the state. The Congress organised protests at the district and tehsil levels, and the Shiv Sena (UBT) held a demonstration at Shivaji Park on Friday, with a victory rally scheduled for Sunday. The Congress held protest rallies and candlelight marches across Maharashtra. After a march in Latur on Friday, the Mumbai Congress organised a protest at Bandstand in Bandra on Saturday. The party said it will continue its agitation until other demands are met: a judicial probe into the NEET paper leak, withdrawal of cases against protesting students, action against police personnel responsible for the alleged lathi charge in Delhi, and a public apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the paper leak and police action. "The Congress will continue its agitation against corruption in the Modi government's education system. We demand strict punishment for everyone involved in the paper leak racket, a discussion on the issue in parliament, and a public apology from the prime minister. We will not remain silent until these demands are met, even though the education minister has resigned," said Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal. Congress leader Sachin Sawant, who participated in the candlelight march in Bandra on Saturday, said the party would hold a victory march on Sunday to mark the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. "Students and young professionals from well-off families also participated in the Bandra protest. This reflects the widespread anger among the people," Sawant said. Congress leaders said the overwhelming public response had encouraged the party to continue its campaign. "Our grassroots workers and ordinary citizens have been urging us to protest against various issues affecting the people," said another Congress leader. Remarking on the lack of unity in the MVA, a senior Congress office-bearer said, "We cannot join the protest or victory rallies organised jointly by Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS because we cannot align with the MNS, given its anti-north Indian stand. Second, the NCP (SP) is perceived to be maintaining cordial ties with the BJP amid speculation about a possible merger of the two NCP factions. Therefore, we are continuing our agitation independently." Meanwhile, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, who met Modi earlier this week, said the use of tear gas against students and the decision to suspend metro services were unwarranted. Opposition leaders, however, privately admit that the lack of coordination among the MVA constituents had diluted the impact of their campaign, even as all three parties continued to target the BJP over the paper leak....