Shashi Tharoor has responded to the sudden rise of the viral ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP), a satirical online political movement that has rapidly gained traction across social media platforms. The Congress MP said the popularity of the group reflects the frustration and disappointment many young Indians currently feel toward the political system.
In a post shared on X, Tharoor defended the role of satire and criticism in a democracy, saying public spaces must allow room for humour, dissent, and expression of anger. He also criticised the suspension of the CJP’s X account, calling the action “deeply unwise”.
According to Tharoor, shutting down such voices does not solve the underlying problem but instead increases resentment among the youth. He suggested that platforms like these provide an outlet for young people to express their concerns and dissatisfaction.
The Thiruvananthapuram MP further stated that the rapid online growth of the Cockroach Janata Party indicates that a significant section of people are unhappy with the current political atmosphere in the country. While he admitted he is uncertain about how long the movement will last, he expressed hope that the energy and enthusiasm shown by its supporters would eventually translate into participation in mainstream politics or stronger voter engagement.
Tharoor also remarked that opposition parties should carefully understand the reasons behind the movement’s popularity and view it as an important political signal rather than dismissing it.
The Cockroach Janata Party was launched by 30-year-old Abhijeet Dipke following alleged remarks by CJI Surya Kant comparing unemployed youth to “cockroaches” and “parasites”, comments that triggered widespread backlash online. Using memes, humour, and satire, the group quickly became a platform highlighting issues such as unemployment and youth frustration.
Within days of its launch, CJP witnessed massive growth on social media, attracting millions of followers on Instagram. The group even mocked the Bharatiya Janata Party by claiming it managed to surpass the BJP’s follower count within just four days.
Dipke has also alleged that attempts were made to hack the party’s Instagram account shortly after its X account was suspended.