Cockroach Janta Party: How India’s youth turned an insult into a viral political movement
TNIE online desk
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) began after Chief Justice Surya Kant’s remarks comparing some unemployed youth to “cockroaches” sparked outrage online.
File Photo | Express
Young Indians quickly reclaimed the insult, turning the cockroach into a satirical symbol of survival, frustration and resistance.
Photo | Pexels
Created by political strategist Abhijeet Dipke, the CJP is not a real political party but a digital protest movement powered by memes and social media.
Photo | Instagram Screengrab
The movement exploded online, gaining more than 20 million Instagram followers within days and drawing support from activists, lawyers and opposition politicians.
Photo | Instagram
Its mock manifesto targets issues like unemployment, corruption, political defections and greater representation for women in politics.
Photo | Pexels
The campaign soon faced a crackdown, with its X account withheld, Instagram pages allegedly hacked and its website taken down over reported security concerns.