Aditya DidwaniyaA satirical joke born out of a Supreme Court remark spiralled into India’s biggest viral political movement. Cockroach Janta Party, founded by 30-year-old digital strategist Abhijeet Dipke, crossed 16 million Instagram followers and even overtook the BJP online. Here’s everything you need to know about the man who made it happen.
India’s internet has seen many trends come and go but nothing quite like the Cockroach Janta Party. What started as a cheeky response to a Supreme Court remark exploded into a full-blown digital movement. Within days, it had racked up hundreds of thousands of sign-ups and millions of social media followers. The man behind it all? A 30-year-old Boston-based strategist named Abhijeet Dipke.
What Sparked the Cockroach Janta Party?
The whole thing began on May 15, 2026 when Chief Justice Surya Kant made a remark during a court hearing that stirred massive online anger. He described unemployed young Indians as “cockroaches” and “parasites of society.” The comment spread like wildfire across social media. Young Indians already frustrated with unemployment and political apathy did not take it lying down. Dipke seized the moment and launched the Cockroach Janta Party the very next day. The party’s website went live under the tagline “Voice of the Lazy & Unemployed.” The eligibility criteria? Being unemployed, chronically online, and able to rant professionally.
How Big Did the Cockroach Janta Party Get?
The growth was nothing short of staggering. Within 48 hours of its launch, the Cockroach Janta Party had crossed over 100,000 member registrations. The movement kept growing fast. Its X account gained more than 200,000 followers in just four days. Then came an even bigger milestone the party’s Instagram account surpassed the official handle of the BJP, the world’s largest political party. As of last count, the Cockroach Janta Party’s Instagram crossed 18 million followers. The BJP’s official account stood at 8.8 million. Shortly after, the CJP’s X account was withheld in India. Dipke promptly created a new account and urged supporters to keep following.
Who Is Abhijeet Dipke?
Dipke is a 30-year-old political communication strategist from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra. He is well-regarded for his expertise in digital political messaging, narrative building, and online campaign strategy. He completed his undergraduate degree in journalism from Pune and then moved to the United States for advanced studies. He recently finished his master’s degree in Public Relations from Boston University. From 2020 to 2023, Dipke worked with the Aam Aadmi Party as part of its social media and election campaign team. During the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections the landmark sweep by Arvind Kejriwal’s party Dipke played a key role in crafting meme-driven digital campaigns. Those campaigns defined AAP’s sharp online presence and helped pull in younger voters in a big way.
“None of This Was Planned” Dipke Speaks Out
Despite the scale of the movement, Dipke insists it was never a calculated project. Speaking in an interview, he made his position very clear
“As I told you, none of this was planned. If I had planned it, I wouldn’t be doing it from the US. I would have been in India. But I want to underline this: this has happened because of the frustration young people have carried for many years. India has the largest young population, and the majority of that young population is out of the workforce.”
His words struck a nerve. Young Indians flooded his inbox. Supporters urged him not to let the Cockroach Janta Party die. “They wrote to me, do not back off!” Dipke said. What began as internet satire was becoming something far bigger a reflection of genuine disillusionment. “People are messaging us saying they’ve lost hope in both the government and the Opposition,” he added. At the time of writing, Dipke’s personal X account carries over 103,600 followers. His bio simply reads: “Founding President Cockroach Janta Party.”
The Controversy: Old Allegations Surface
Dipke’s sudden fame also brought old controversies back into focus. Reports have emerged that back in 2019, a complaint was filed against him by a voluntary organisation called the Legal Rights Observatory. The complaint alleged that Dipke was spreading fake news and provocative content related to Kashmir. The LRO accused him of “spreading lies, provocative false propaganda and Hurriyat style separatism” and claimed his posts were garnering “support for separatist/terrorist active in Kashmir.” It is worth noting that Dipke has not been convicted of any offence in this matter, and these remain allegations at this point.
A Dalit Founder Under Fire
Adding another layer to the story Dipke recently revealed on X that he is Dalit. Almost immediately, a wave of casteist attacks followed on social media. The trolling drew sharp backlash from many users. One account, Laalsalan, called it out bluntly “The amount of hate UCs harbour for dalits is disgusting.” Despite the hate, Dipke has shown no signs of backing down. He has plans to push the Cockroach Janta Party further. He wants to build it into a platform for young Indians who feel abandoned by both the ruling party and the Opposition a voice for those the political mainstream has written off entirely.
The BRICS Times
Mayur Mohta
Akshay Didwaniya
