India, July 21 -- The air around Jantar Mantar on Monday carried a mix of humidity, slogans and uncertainty. Protesters, drenched in sweat and interrupted by spells of rain, wiped their faces with scarves and flags as chants demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan echoed through central Delhi. As the afternoon wore on, the leadership of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) splintered, the planned Sansad Chalo march effectively dissolved, and negotiations began behind closed doors. Even so, the crowds on the streets showed little sign of giving up.

Rather than a single united procession towards Parliament, demonstrators gathered in smaller clusters around Janpath Metro Station Gate number 2, Jantar Mantar, and...