Viral Cockroach Janata Party Loses X Account, Crosses 14 Million on Instagram

The social media-driven “Cockroach Janata Party” (CJP), formed after controversial remarks allegedly linked to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, has become one of the most talked-about online political movements in the country. Within just a few days of its launch, the party’s X (formerly Twitter) account was blocked, while its popularity on Instagram continued to surge, crossing 14 million followers by Thursday afternoon. According to reports, the party’s X account was suspended only six days after the organization was created. Before being blocked, the account had already gained more than 1.9 lakh followers. Users visiting the account now see a message stating that it has been withheld due to legal demands. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke claimed that attempts had earlier been made to hack the account, and when those failed, the profile was eventually shut down. Despite the action on X, the party’s influence on Instagram has grown rapidly. CJP reportedly surpassed the follower count of several major political parties in India. Congress currently has around 13.4 million Instagram followers, while BJP and AAP each have around 8.7 million followers. CPI(M) has significantly fewer followers in comparison. The movement began on May 16 after online outrage erupted over comments in which unemployed youth were allegedly referred to as “cockroaches.” In response, Dipke raised the question on social media: “What if all the cockroaches come together?” That statement quickly transformed into a viral online campaign known as the Cockroach Janata Party. Thousands of users started supporting the movement, turning it into a digital phenomenon within days. CJP has also launched its official website and released a manifesto containing several demands. These include preventing retired Chief Justices from entering the Rajya Sabha, implementing 50 percent reservation for women without increasing parliamentary seats, and imposing a 20-year ban on MPs and MLAs who switch political parties from contesting elections. The party even introduced unusual “membership qualifications,” including unemployment, laziness, addiction to staying online, and the ability to express anger professionally. These sarcastic conditions have attracted widespread discussion on social media, especially among young users frustrated with unemployment and politics. The founder, 30-year-old Abhijeet Dipke from Pune, Maharashtra, studied journalism before moving to the United States for higher education. He later earned a postgraduate degree in public relations from Boston University and currently works as a political communications strategist focused on digital campaigns. Although many see the Cockroach Janata Party as satire or online activism rather than a real political organization, its explosive growth highlights the power of social media-driven movements in India’s digital age.