Cockroach Janta Party's four-day social media storm challenges established Parties

A satirical political outfit, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has shaken India’s political landscape by amassing millions of Instagram followers within days of its launch, overtaking several mainstream parties and even surpassing the ruling BJP.

Launched just four days ago, the CJP stunned observers by reaching 7.7 million followers by Wednesday night, rapidly closing in on the BJP’s 8.7 million and Congress’s 13.2 million. By Thursday, the account had surged further to 10.9 million followers, eclipsing the BJP outright. In comparison, AAP stood at 1.9 million and Trinamool Congress at 537,000.

The movement was founded by Abhijeet Dipke, a 30‑year‑old political communication strategist studying at Boston University. It emerged as a viral response to remarks attributed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, who allegedly described unemployed youth as “cockroaches” and “parasites” during a court hearing.

Despite the BJP’s long‑standing presence on Instagram with over 18,000 posts, the CJP achieved its record‑breaking following with just 56 posts. Its slogan “Abki baar 10 million paar” — a parody of BJP’s campaign line — has become a rallying cry online.

Political analysts say the surge highlights the growing power of meme culture and digital satire in mobilising younger audiences. The movement has already drawn support from mainstream leaders, including Mahua Moitra of Trinamool Congress and Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party.

While the BJP remains the world’s largest political organisation by membership and a dominant electoral force, the CJP’s viral success underscores how social media can disrupt traditional political narratives, turning parody into a powerful tool of protest and engagement.