What is the Cockroach Janta Party, and what does it want?

What is the Cockroach Janta Party?

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is a youth protest movement that began as an online satire page in mid-May 2026 and has since led street protests in Delhi and other cities. It describes itself as “A political front of the youth, by the youth, for the youth” and, half in jest, as “Secular, Socialist, Democratic, Lazy”.

Its tone is ironic. Its satirical membership rules ask for applicants who are unemployed, lazy, chronically online and able to “rant professionally”. Its demands are serious: accountability for exam paper leaks, and now the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.

Why is it called the Cockroach Janta Party?

The name answers a remark made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during a Supreme Court hearing on 15 May 2026. He spoke of “youngsters like cockroaches” entering professions without proper qualifications. The next day he clarified that he meant people using fake degrees, not young people in general, whom he called the “pillars of a developed India”.

By then the word had stuck. Young people adopted it as a badge, with slogans such as “Main Bhi Cockroach”. The name also plays on that of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Who runs it?

The founder is Abhijeet Dipke, who studied public relations at Boston University. He has said the idea came “impromptu” after the controversy over the Chief Justice’s words.

The leaders most often in the news are Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who were detained together in Delhi on 10 October. Ajinkya Shinde, 35, from Latur, became the CJP’s national organising in-charge in August 2026 and leads the movement when the others are held.

Is it a political party?

No. Despite the name, it is not registered with the Election Commission as a party. It has not contested any election. Opposition MPs have publicly backed it: Trinamool Congress MPs Mahua Moitra and Kirti Azad publicly associated themselves with it online within days of its launch.

The CJP in numbers

• 6 million+Instagram followers by 20 May 2026, days after launch
• 36 daysof NEET protests before the Education Minister resigned
• 130 million+names removed from voter lists so far, by media counts

What did its NEET protests achieve?

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on 25 July 2026, after 36 days of CJP-led protests over the NEET medical entrance exam paper leak. Dipke announced the news to supporters at Jantar Mantar.

The protests turned violent on 20 July, when police stopped a march to Parliament with tear gas and batons and more than 100 protesters were wounded. Demonstrations then spread to Bengaluru, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mumbai and Patna.

Why is it protesting against the Chief Election Commissioner?

The CJP blames CEC Gyanesh Kumar for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which it says has wrongly struck voters off the lists. Media counts put the names removed from voter lists so far at more than 130 million.

The movement stepped up in late September. Around the same time, the Indian Express reported that the CEC’s two fellow commissioners had objected to SIR decisions at least 14 times in 10 months. The Election Commission denies the allegations and says the revision removes duplicate, deceased or ineligible voters.

“We will ultimately end it only when Gyanesh Kumar resigns. He has to go,” CJP convener Saurav Das said on 2 October.

From a meme to Jantar Mantar

1. 15 May 2026CJI Surya Kant's 'cockroaches' remark in court; he clarifies the next day.
2. Mid-May 2026Abhijeet Dipke launches the Cockroach Janta Party online.
3. 20 Jul 2026Police stop a NEET protest march to Parliament; more than 100 hurt.
4. 25 Jul 2026Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.
5. Late Sep 2026CJP threatens nationwide protests unless the CEC resigns.
6. 2 Oct 2026First Jantar Mantar protest against the CEC; police detain hundreds.
7. 10 Oct 2026March to Jantar Mantar blocked; thousands detained, leaders held at Delhi airport.
8. 11 Oct 2026Leaders released; Supreme Court orders Metro and internet restored.

How have the government and the BJP responded?

The BJP and the Election Commission deny the CJP’s allegations, and Delhi Police have refused it permission to gather at Jantar Mantar. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said the allegations were “being levelled by an irresponsible, anarchist opposition” on 8 October. On 10 October police detained thousands of people across Delhi, and the Supreme Court has since asked senior officials to explain the Metro and train shutdowns.

What happens next?

The CJP says it will keep protesting until the CEC resigns. “Come to Jantar Mantar in large numbers, and protest wherever Delhi Police stops you,” Ajinkya Shinde said on 10 October. The Supreme Court hears the detention and contempt petitions on 13 October. Removing a CEC needs a motion passed by both Houses of Parliament, as for a Supreme Court judge, so the CJP’s demand depends on the CEC choosing to step down or on Parliament.