‘I too am a cockroach’: Oppn leaders endorse party, say it's ‘BJP vs CJP’. A look at names

WLid started as an cyberspace jest is at present turn into one of the loudest political meme movements online. The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), a satirical outfit born barely four days ago on Thursday touched 12 million followers on Instagram, overtaking the BJP’s 8.7 million followers on the platform.The so-called party, founded by Abhijeet Dipke, proudly calls itself the “Voice of the Lazy & Unemployed” and has quickly gained traction among internet creators and meme-loving Gen Z users, with social media timelines now flooded with cockroach emojis. And now, political heavyweights are joining the fun too. ‘BJP versus CJP’Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav threw his weight behind the movement with a short post on Instagram and X. “BJP versus CJP,” he wrote. That one-liner quickly went viral.AAP leader Manish Sisodia also joined in with an Instagram video. “I too am a cockroach,” Sisodia said.“When it’s a war between the Crocodile and the Cockroaches, I proudly stand with the Cockroach Janta Party.”Trinamool Congress leaders Mahua Moitra and Kirti Azad also publicly asked to join the Cockroach Janata Party.Kirti Azad posted on X, “I would like to join the cockroach janta party. What are the qualifications required?”The CJP responded in full meme mode: “We welcome Kirti Azad to our Cockroach Janta Party. Winning the 1983 World Cup is a good enough qualification.”Mahua Moitra also joined the trend, posting: “I too would like to join the CJP (besides being a card carrying member of the Anti National Party).”The party welcomed her saying, “You are the fighter democracy needs, Mahua Moitra. Welcome to CJP!”‘Frustration of Indian youth’Popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, meanwhile, described the sudden rise of the party as a reflection of growing anger among young people.Calling it a “GenZ movement”, he said the massive online support represented the “frustration of Indian Youth”.“Demand the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradha, and I too would like to be a member of the Cockroach Janata Party,” he added in a video posted on Instagram.How a cockroach meme became a political stormThe Cockroach Janata Party emerged after controversial remarks by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant comparing some unemployed youth to “cockroaches” and “parasites” triggered widespread backlash online.“There are youngsters, like cockroaches, who don't get any employment or have any place in profession. Some of them become media, some of them become social media, RTI activists and other activists, and they start attacking everyone,” he had said.Before CJI Kant issued a clarification, the remarks had already set off a wave of outrage online. What began as sarcastic commentary and memes soon snowballed into a full-fledged internet movement, eventually giving birth to the Cockroach Janata Party.The party openly admits it is satire. But behind the humour, users say, lies frustration over unemployment, competitive exams, inflation, political privilege and pressure on young Indians.Its manifesto includes demands such as:No post-retirement Rajya Sabha seats for Chief JusticesStrict action against deletion of valid votesElectoral bans for defecting legislatorsAction against misinformation by media outletsGreater representation for women in governanceWhy Gen Z is loving itUnlike traditional political campaigns built around rallies and long speeches, the CJP has carved out its space almost entirely through meme culture, striking a chord with young social media users who increasingly relate to its humour and messaging.Its posts mix dramatic revolution-style graphics with absurd humour, sarcastic slogans and deeply relatable jokes about unemployment and exam stress.Supporters jokingly describe themselves as “survivors” of inflation, entrance tests, job hunts and societal expectations.