TDP says ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ movement reflects youth concerns, should reach policymakers

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) State President Palla Srinivasa Rao on Sunday, May 24, 2026, said that the social media movement of ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP) reflects the aspirations and concerns of the youth and should be taken seriously by policy makers.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu are constantly working for the youth through their efforts in job creation, economic development, Digital India and attracting global investments.

The emergence of such movements shows the need to continue reviewing policies to suit young people’s expectations, he said. “We will definitely convey the wishes of young people to our policy makers,” he said.

Mr Rao warned that external forces may try to influence discussions on social media and urged young people to be careful and responsible online. He said that unemployment and some public statements may have caused disappointment among some segments of the youth.

“As an NDA partner, we are committed to policy-oriented governance. Our common goal is to provide better employment opportunities and a stronger future for the youth,” he said.

The CJP movement began as a satirical online protest following controversy over comments made by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant during a hearing. The court reportedly referred to young underemployed social media activists as “cockroaches” and “parasites” when reprimanding a man over a legal defense.

The CJI later clarified that the remarks were misquoted and were only directed at people using fake law degrees. Gen Z and Millennial users have adopted the “cockroach” hashtag as a badge of honor, creating a satirical “political party” that is quickly surpassing mainstream parties in online engagement.

The movement attracted millions of followers within a week and drew attention to problems in education and employment before the government’s sudden crackdown.

(Inputs from ANI)