Cockroach Janata Party claims more than 40,000 youths joined it

A newly-set up political entrant called Cockroach Janata Party, inspired by a recent statement made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, in a statement on its X account, claimed on Wednesday that more than 40,000 youths have joined the organisation while it is yet to officially register itself with the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The party, started online by Pune-based individual Abhijit Dipke, describes itself on its website as “a party of the youth, by the youth, for the youth,” and its slogan is “Secular, Socialist, Democratic, Lazy.” Thousands of people have joined the campaign online, and it is being considered as a new kind of digital politics, though other political parties view it as a joke or satire.

Advertisement

Founder of the party Abhijit Dipke studied journalism in Pune for his undergraduate degree before moving to the United States to pursue his master’s in public relations from Boston University.

The party’s online posts humorously state that to become a member, one must be “unemployed, chronically online, professional ranter and lazy”.

However, amidst the humour, the Cockroach Janata Party has also raised serious issues like youth unemployment, exam paper leak controversies, systemic transparency, and political representation. It also stated that it would soon organise a Gen-Z virtual convention where young people will discuss policy and governance.

Furthermore, the party’s manifesto published online called for a ban on all post-retirement political positions for the Chief Justice of India, 50 per cent reservation for women, media freedom and a 20-year ban on politicians who switch parties. However, social media users appear divided about the party.

Some social media users called it mere meme politics, while others said it’s the first time that a platform is speaking directly to the youth in their own language about their immediate concerns.

“This is the first party in the country which at least understands the pain of the youth,” wrote a user.

Another social media user commented, “Now, politics has become like Reddit and Instagram Reels.”

Yet many social media users called the Cockroach Janata Party “the new face of India’s Gen Z politics.” However, it is not yet clear if the party will become official or remain an online movement confined to the internet, but it has certainly created a stir on social media.