Cockroach Janata Party’s Instagram surges past BJP amid CJI controversy

Cockroach Janata Party gains rapid social media following after Surya Kant remarks; Instagram account later withheld in India

A satirical political outfit called the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has drawn millions of followers on Instagram within days of its launch and briefly surpassed the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Instagram numbers, officials and platform metrics showed on Thursday, even as the party’s X account was reportedly withheld in India.

Rapid social growth
According to platform figures tracked on Thursday afternoon, the CJP’s Instagram page crossed about 1.23 crore followers, topping the BJP’s roughly 87 lakh followers and drawing close to the Indian National Congress’s 1.33 crore. The party’s X handle added nearly 1.93 lakh followers before it was withheld in India, social-media observers said. Platform notices visible to some users indicated restrictions related to local content rules.

Origin and timing
The new movement was started by Abhijit Deepake, a Maharashtra-based social media worker who previously volunteered with the Aam Aadmi Party’s digital team between 2020 and 2023, people familiar with the matter said. The timing followed a row sparked by media reports on May 15 that attributed a comparison to “cockroaches” to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during a court hearing.

CJI clarification
Chief Justice Surya Kant later clarified his remarks, saying they were aimed at people using fake degrees and unethical practices in professions such as law and media, and describing them as “parasites,” official statements showed. The clarification did not stem the social-media backlash, which quickly morphed into a political satire movement online.

Satire and manifesto
The CJP’s public profile mixes satire with pointed political commentary. Its slogan — “Secular, Socialist, Democratic, Lazy” — and a short manifesto have been circulated widely on social platforms and messaging apps. The manifesto includes unconventional promises such as a ban on Rajya Sabha posts for retired chief justices, tougher action against alleged deletion of valid votes, 50 percent reservation for women in Parliament and the Cabinet, and cancellation of media licences linked to large conglomerates. It also lists tongue-in-cheek membership criteria like unemployment and “professional-level laziness.”

Street actions and symbolism
On Thursday morning in Delhi, supporters wearing cockroach costumes staged a symbolic cleanliness drive near the Yamuna river, sweeping small stretches of riverbank and distributing leaflets, an AFP photographer and local volunteers said. Organisers described the gesture as a bid to convert online interest into grassroots political awareness among young people rather than an immediate electoral push.

Reactions from parties
Senior leaders from established parties reacted cautiously. A BJP spokesperson declined to comment on follower comparisons, saying social-media metrics do not translate directly into political support. Congress sources noted their existing digital outreach efforts and emphasised ground-level organisation over follower counts. Analysts cautioned that rapid follower growth can reflect meme-driven virality rather than sustained political mobilisation.

Legal and regulatory context
Social-media restrictions on the CJP’s X account underscore growing tensions between rapidly evolving online campaigns and platform compliance with local rules. “Platforms routinely withhold accounts or content when they’re found in breach of jurisdictional regulations,” an industry source said, requesting anonymity. The Information Technology rules and intermediary guidelines remain the framework platforms cite when moderating politically sensitive material in India.

What’s next
Organisers said they plan more symbolic events and digital outreach in the coming days, aiming to convert the online energy into a more organised presence. Authorities have not reported any formal complaints connected to the group’s public actions so far. Observers say the key test will be whether the movement moves beyond satire to sustained political activity or fizzles as a social-media moment.

Context and significance
Political satire and meme culture have increasingly shaped Indian political discourse, especially among younger, urban netizens. The CJP episode highlights how a controversy around a public figure’s remarks can quickly spawn organised online movements that challenge traditional party narratives — at least in the short term.