Cockroach Janta Party Has No Candidates, No Budget, and 10 Million+ Followers. India's Gen Z Is Dead Serious

When Chief Justice Surya Kant used the word "cockroaches" to describe unemployed youth during an open court hearing, he likely did not anticipate what would follow. Within 72 hours, a satirical political outfit bearing that very name had amassed over 3 million Instagram followers, 350,000 sign-ups, and the attention of sitting parliamentarians. The Cockroach Janta Party is now one of the most talked-about digital movements in recent Indian political memory.

What Was the Remark That Set Everything Off?

Chief Justice Kant reportedly said during open court that "There are youngsters like cockroaches, who don’t get any employment or have any place in the profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, RTI activists and other activists, and they start attacking everyone”. He later clarified the remarks were directed at those acquiring fraudulent degrees, and did not target India’s youth. The damage, however, was already done.

Who Is Abhijeet Dipke and How Did He Start This?

Abhijeet Dipke, a 30-year-old public relations graduate from Boston University, posted a single question on X: "What if all cockroaches come together?" He then built a website and social media accounts for the Cockroach Janta Party within 24 hours, reportedly using AI tools including Claude and ChatGPT to design its look and manifesto.

How Big Has This Digital Movement Become?

The party's Instagram account crossed 3 million followers in three days. Over 350,000 people signed up via a Google form, including opposition parliamentarians Mahua Moitra and Kirti Azad, alongside retired bureaucrats and legal activists. As of now, CJP has over 11 million followers.

What Does the Party's Manifesto Say?

The eligibility criteria are deliberately absurd: unemployed, lazy, chronically online, and able to rant professionally. Its motto reads "Secular, Socialist, Democratic, Lazy." Beneath the humour, the manifesto takes direct aim at voter manipulation allegations, corporate media alignment, and post-retirement judicial appointments.

Why Is Gen Z in India Angry Right Now?

India produces over 8 million graduates annually, yet graduate unemployment reportedly stands at 29.1 percent, nine times higher than for those who never attended school. Prominent lawyer Prashant Bhushan told Al Jazeera the remarks reflected deep-rooted antipathy toward youth. "People are finally asking questions and demanding accountability," he said.

Could This Moment Last Beyond the News Cycle?

Dipke has framed the movement as a responsibility. "For too long, people have been quiet in India," he told Al Jazeera. Whether it sustains or fades, its rise has already said something no manifesto needed to spell out.

(With inputs from yMedia)