What began as an internet joke has, within days, snowballed into one of India’s biggest social media phenomena. The satirical “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP), launched barely a week ago, is now inching towards the 20 million mark on Instagram, with its follower count crossing 18.9 million by Thursday evening - far ahead of mainstream political parties on the platform.
The sudden rise of the page, born out of online outrage and meme culture, has triggered intense debate across political and social circles. While supporters see it as a reflection of youth frustration around unemployment and economic anxieties, critics and social media users have also raised questions about the speed of its growth, with some alleging possible bot-driven activity because the movement’s popularity on Instagram has not translated proportionately to X.
Also Read:Three Trademark Applications Filed for 'Cockroach Janta Party' Name
The scrutiny intensified further after the party’sX account was withheldin India on Thursday following what the platform described as “a legal demand”. Before being blocked, the account had crossed 200,000 followers.
The controversy traces back to remarks made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during a court hearing on May 15.
The CJI had likened unemployed youth to “cockroaches”, sparking backlash on social media. However, Justice Surya Kant later clarified that his remarks were aimed at individuals holding fake degrees and not at unemployed youth.
Expressing regret over the way his observations were reported, the Chief Justice said he takes immense pride in India’s youth and draws inspiration from them.
But by then, the “cockroach” debate had already exploded online.
On May 16, Abhijeet Dipke - a Maharashtra native, former political communications strategist and current public relations student at Boston University - posted a graphic announcing the “Cockroach Janta Party” along with a Google Form inviting people to join.
“I am creating a new platform for all the 'cockroaches' out there; those who wish to join, please click on the link,” Dipke wrote on X.
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