Cockroach Janta Party: A Viral Online Trend Attracting Youth

Following Chief Justice Surya Kant’s alleged comparison of young people without jobs to “cockroaches,” a satirical political organization known as the Cockroach Janta Party has emerged online. Within 5 days of its being online, the social media page attracted over 13 million members/followers.

The CJP’s manifesto characterizes itself as “secular, socialist, democratic, lazy.” They call for things like a 20-year election Ban for MLS and MPs who change parties. 50% reservation for women in Parliament without increasing the size of the house. A ban on the Chief Justice holding Rajya Sabha seats after retirement.

What is the Cockroach movement?

It all started on May 15, when, during a case hearing the Chief Justice of India criticized India’s youth, calling some of them “parasites” and “cockroaches”. The Chief Justice said it while discussing phoney degrees. He had stated, “there are young people who are unemployed like cockroaches. Some of them become media, some become social media, some become RTI activist, and they start attacking everyone.”

The Cockroach Janta Party’s founder and convener, Abhijeet Dipke, posed the question, “What if all the cockroaches come together?”.

People are posting memes claiming to be Cockroaches on X and instagram. Number of former civil officers and members of India’s operation party has stated they would like to join the party. They came online to give a statement regarding it.

Many are remainded off the Gen Z uprisings that overthrew governments in Nations like Bangladesh and Nepal. Those were also started by the quick support for what started out as in online joke. Dipke, though, has no such intentions.

Manifesto of the Cockroach Janta Party

Although the party’s website freely acknowledges that the endeavour is satire, it’s fictitious manifesto deftly reflects actual political concerns. Five promises made in the manifesto are:

1. Chief Justices are not eligible for Rajya Sabha seats after retirement
2. Action against the election commissioner if legitimate votes are removed through SIR.
3. 50% reservation for women in Parliament. including the cabinet. Implemented without increasing the current total number of seats.
4. Take action against media outlets that disseminate false information.
5. 20 year election Ban for MPs and MLAs who change parties.