Cockroach Janta Party Gains Online Followers in India

A parody account called the Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, has drawn about 19 million Instagram followers since its launch last month. ” The movement began as online satire but now circulates memes and mock campaign messages that address unemployment, corruption, and the functioning of India’s democracy.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the account’s growth reflects younger users’ frustration with limited outlets for criticism.

Kant made the comments during a public event.

He later stated that the remarks targeted individuals holding fraudulent degrees rather than young people in general. Dipke, a political communications strategist and Boston University graduate, said the account was not planned in advance. He previously worked with the Aam Aadmi Party, which formed after India’s 2012 anti-corruption protests.

The CJP’s official account on X later became inaccessible inside India while remaining visible elsewhere. Congress party member Shashi Tharoor wrote that the restriction was “disastrous” and “deeply unwise,” adding that democracies require outlets for dissent and satire.

Dipke posted a graph indicating that nearly 95 percent of the account’s audience is located in India, responding to claims that followers originated from neighboring Pakistan. He also said his personal social media accounts appear to have been targeted by hackers since the CJP launch.