A political party known by the nickname 'cockroach' is campaigning to fix India's struggling state schools, pointing to broken toilets, leaking roofs and overcrowded classrooms.
At a government-run primary school for girls in Faridabad, a district on the outskirts of the Indian capital Delhi, pupils and teachers contend with a host of such problems.
Campaigners say poor facilities can deter attendance, particularly among girls, for whom the lack of clean, private toilets is a long-recognised barrier to staying in school.
“Children cannot learn properly when the classroom ceiling drips on them and there is nowhere safe to use the toilet.”
The party, which has embraced its unusual nickname, has made school infrastructure a central plank of its campaigning.
India has made major strides in expanding access to education, with enrolment rising sharply over recent decades.
However, education experts say the quality of facilities and teaching varies widely between states and districts, and many schools still lack basic amenities.
Studies have repeatedly linked safe drinking water, working toilets and sound buildings with better attendance and learning outcomes. Education campaigners argue that such basics should be treated as essential rather than optional extras.
Staff at schools like the one in Faridabad say lessons can be disrupted during the monsoon, when roofs leak and classrooms become unusable.
Government officials say significant funds have been allocated to upgrading school buildings and that improvements are under way in many areas.
Whether the new party can turn concern over the state of classrooms into votes remains to be seen.
