Parents Concerned as Cockroach Janta Party Gains Popularity

The rapid ascent of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on social media has raised concerns for its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, as his parents express worries for his safety. The organisation, which was founded only a week ago by Mr. Dipke, a student at Boston University, quickly amassed over 19 million followers on Instagram. Mr. Dipke is formerly associated with the Aam Aadmi Party. His parents, Bhagwan and Anita Dipke, residing in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, revealed their fears during an interview with a local Marathi news channel. They are apprehensive about Mr. Dipke entering the political arena, particularly given the current climate surrounding social media influencers and political discourse.

The Cockroach Janta Party emerged from a controversy involving Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, who used the terms “parasites” and “cockroaches” while addressing a lawyer regarding dubious legal credentials. While the Chief Justice later clarified that his comments were misrepresented and specifically aimed at certain individuals, the CJP utilised the buzz surrounding this incident to craft its identity, using the image of a cockroach as its symbol.

Mr. Bhagwan Dipke articulated the common anxieties shared by many parents when their children engage in politics: “If we look at politics nowadays, fear is natural, no matter how many followers he has. We read about such incidents in newspapers.” His wife, Ms. Anita Dipke, echoed these sentiments, stating, “We just want him to come home safely. Whether he continues in politics will be his decision, but we do not want him to pursue it.” She also mentioned her son’s educational journey, noting that he initially studied in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and later moved to Pune. After finding engineering challenging, he shifted his focus towards mass media.

According to Mr. Bhagwan Dipke, the decision for Mr. Abhijeet Dipke to study journalism abroad was influenced by the fact that his sister was already studying there. He expressed a desire for his son to secure a job after his studies rather than pursuing a political career. The parents were initially unaware of the CJP until they were informed by a neighbour, and later, their grandchildren informed them of its rapid growth in popularity against well-known politicians in India.

The CJP has utilised memes to effectively engage with a young audience, capturing attention through political satire that addresses issues like unemployment, examination paper leaks, and education reform. Its content is presented in an accessible format, employing graphics and animation alongside manifestos that resonate with youth concerns.

As of May 22, 2026, the CJP’s X account faced suspension within India, leading to the creation of a new handle titled 'Cockroach is Back', featuring the tagline 'Cockroaches Don’t Die'. This new account attracted over 91,000 followers soon after its launch. Earlier on the same day, the original handle had boasted more than 39,000 followers shortly after its creation. The new account continued to advocate for issues such as the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over a recently leaked examination paper.

As CJP’s popularity continues to rise, the concerns of Mr. Dipke's family underscore a poignant narrative about the intersection of digital activism, political engagement, and personal safety in contemporary India.