The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) started in May 2026 as a satirical online movement, not as a formally registered political party. It quickly grew into a viral symbol of frustration among many young Indians over unemployment, exam paper leaks, and perceived government unaccountability.

Here's how it began:

• The immediate trigger was a widely shared controversy over remarks attributed to Chief Justice Surya Kant. Clips and posts circulating online led many people to believe unemployed youth had been compared to "cockroaches," although reporting later noted that the original courtroom comments were made in a different context and were widely interpreted or quoted out of context on social media.

• In response, Abhijeet Dipke launched the Cockroach Janta Party as a parody political project, complete with a logo, manifesto, website, and social media accounts.

• The "cockroach" became a tongue-in-cheek symbol of resilience—something difficult to eliminate—while memes mocked corruption, unemployment, and political dysfunction. The movement spread rapidly across Instagram, X, and WhatsApp.

• What began as internet satire soon attracted millions of followers and, according to recent reporting, evolved into offline protests focused particularly on exam paper leaks (including NEET), demands for education reform, and calls for accountability from public officials.

In short, the Cockroach Janta Party did not begin as a conventional political party. It started as an online parody in response to a controversial public debate and then grew into a broader youth protest movement driven by real grievances.