A satirical online movement called the Cockroach Janta Party has rapidly become one of India’s biggest social media trends, attracting attention from celebrities, influencers and meme creators alike.
Several well-known personalities including Anurag Kashyap, Dia Mirza, comedian Kunal Kamra and television stars such as Umar Riaz, Uorfi Javed, Abhishek Nigam and Himanshi Khurana are reportedly following the movement’s official Instagram handle.
The movement was founded online by Abhijeet Dipke, a Boston University graduate, on May 16. What started as an internet joke quickly snowballed into a viral social media campaign, reportedly crossing 10 million followers within just five days.
What sparked the trend?
The campaign emerged after remarks made during a court hearing by Chief Justice Surya Kant triggered criticism and memes online. During the hearing, comments referring to some unemployed youth and online activists as “like cockroaches” quickly went viral, leading to widespread reactions across Instagram and X.
However, the Chief Justice later clarified his remarks, stating that he was criticising individuals using fake qualifications in professions and not targeting India’s youth. He further said that Indian youth continue to inspire him and are pillars of the country’s future.
Why is everyone talking about it?
The popularity of the Cockroach Janta Party largely stems from its satirical political tone, meme-driven campaigns and humorous manifesto.
Young social media users began playfully declaring themselves “eligible candidates” for party positions, while memes and parody campaign posters flooded platforms.
The fictional party’s manifesto describes itself as “secular, socialist, democratic, lazy” and includes satirical proposals such as banning post-retirement Rajya Sabha seats for chief justices, introducing 50 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and enforcing a 20-year election ban for defecting MLAs and MPs.
The trend has also gained momentum due to celebrity engagement and the growing culture of political humour online.
Apart from actors and filmmakers, several digital creators including Nagma Mirajkar, Purav Jha, Shafaq Naaz and Sheizaan Khan have also joined the online conversation.
What began as a satirical response has now evolved into a full-fledged viral phenomenon powered by meme culture, celebrity participation and internet-driven political commentary.
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