Cockroach Janta Party Meme, protest, or Gen Z’s political wake-up call?

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has amassed nearly 21.8 million Instagram followers in just a week since its launch on May 16, surpassing the online presence of some of India’s oldest and most established political parties and turning an internet joke into one of the country’s most talked-about youth-led online movements.

The statement that sparked the incident

The move comes after comments made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during a legal case sparked widespread criticism online. His comments, which referred to unemployed youth, activists and some sections of the media as “cockroaches” and “parasites”, were met with backlash by many who saw them as dismissive and derogatory.

Within a day, the internet responded as political communications strategist and Boston University public relations graduate Abhijeet Dipke launched the satirical online party with a 5-point manifesto.

Justice Surya Kant later clarified that his observations were not directed at unemployed youth in general, but particularly at fake degree holders entering the Bar. But by then the internet had already done what the internet does best. The insult was retracted. The cockroach has become a symbol. And the symbol turned into a movement.

Why is young India linked to this?

For many supporters, CJP is about recognition, the closest representation they have ever had. Psychologist Vyshnavi Gudivada believes the movement is making waves because its appeal lies in providing a space for young people to express their frustrations over unemployment, corruption, leaks of exam papers, rising costs of living and political exclusion without needing institutional approval.

“This has enabled many young Indians to feel seen, represented and politically included,” he says. “Anger is healthier for democracy than disengagement. At least participation means you’re not completely in control.”

Referring to the recent suspension of CJP’s

Turning an insult into an identity

Among the movement’s unconventional voices is Hyderabad-based drag artist Patruni Sastry. According to Sastry, the cockroach is not an insult but a metaphor. “I describe myself as a cockroach because cockroaches survive. They adapt to hostile spaces, establish communities in abandoned corners, and refuse to disappear no matter how much society tries to crush them.” This symbolism has particular resonance for activists, creators, journalists, and marginalized communities who often rely on social media as their primary platform for visibility. “Social media was one of the first spaces where many of us could be vocally present,” says Sastry. “Maybe that’s why people are afraid of cockroaches, not because they’re activists or creative, but because they refuse silence.”

Meme turns into civil action

Shortly after CJP took over the internet, volunteers across the country began taking the movement offline. In Delhi, supporters wearing cockroach costumes participated in clean-up drives along the Yamuna River. Similar volunteer-led activities, from public cleanliness to civic awareness campaigns, began to pop up in different cities.

PRIJIVA, a student-led environmental organization in Hyderabad, has embraced this trend as it continues its ongoing civic work.

Founder Pavan said the group has been conducting weekly clean-up drives near the Salar Jung Museum bridge for the past five months and has eliminated thousands of kilograms of waste through volunteer efforts. “We have been doing clean-up efforts for months with very little participation. We thought why not use this trend to spread our message?” he says.

The irony is hard to miss, he notes. “A meme movement is now helping to mobilize people to clean up public spaces, protect the environment and restore neglected heritage sites. It’s lovely to watch satires helping birds, trees, peacocks and the environment.”

Satire as opposition

Social media influencer Shivani sees CJP as a reflection of widespread disillusionment among younger generations. “The frustration among young people, socially, politically and economically, is huge.”

“When dissent or criticism is suppressed, people find creative ways to express their anger. Satire has the virality to penetrate deeply.”

According to Shivani, digital spaces are not separate from politics, but are increasingly central to politics. “We almost live on our phones. The news we consume, the opinions we form, and our attitudes are shaped by what we see online.”

But he warns that online popularity should not be confused with real political transformation. “It’s too early to judge. It hasn’t even been a week yet. We need to see if real conversations and actions emerge offline. We need to give it time.”

Meet the architect of CJP

Abhijeet Dipke, a 30-year-old political communications strategist and public relations graduate of Boston University, launched the satirical online party with a manifesto. Dipke, originally from Maharashtra, was previously associated with the Aam Aadmi Party’s social media operations between 2020 and 2023. He rejected claims that the CJP was supported by any political party, arguing that the movement was independent, non-partisan and critical of the political establishment as a whole.

On May 23, the CJP website was shut down after receiving more than 10 lakh registrations within hours. Dipke called the action “dictatorial” as the movement faced other setbacks, including the hacking of its Instagram account and restrictions on account X in India.