Stung By Cockroach Janta Party’s Popularity, Congress Swarms Social Media With ‘Indian Youth Cockroaches’

Last Updated:May 26, 2026, 14:37 IST

Indian Youth Congress (IYC) has launched an aggressive online campaign to capture viral “cockroach” meme trend, positioning itself as street-level counterpart to digital-only CJP

‘Fight on streets, not just on timelines’ – Just a tagline or a jibe at the digital-only Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) that voiced the angst of the youngsters and gained instant popularity in a bid to prove its supremacy?

The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) has launched an aggressive online campaign to capture the viral “cockroach" meme trend, positioning itself as the practical, street-level counterpart to the digital-only CJP.

What is the cockroach trend?

The cockroach phenomenon entered Indian political vocabulary after Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant compared unemployed youth who drift into activism and journalism to “cockroaches" and “parasites."

In response, political communication strategist Abhijeet Dipke founded the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The parody outfit exploded in popularity, crossing 19 million Instagram followers and surpassing major political groups before facing sudden social media restrictions and hacking allegations.

The Youth Congress’s counter

The IYC claims it worked on a website following the CJI’s remarks, which has now been taken down, but Dipke’s website went live a day before its site did.

Nevertheless, to make up for the delay, the Congress-backed youth wing is now attempting to steer the narrative with targeted messaging.

Take a look at this. The IYC released videos of street protests regarding the NEET paper leak controversy. They paired the footage with the caption: “Real cockroaches are not just online revolutionaries. You have to be on the ground and fight the system."

The youth wing directly took a swipe at the Boston-based CJP founder, posting memes stating “Indian Youth Cockroaches > Boston Cockroach."

While critics suggest Congress is playing catch-up, IYC leaders claim they independently launched a digital initiative called the “Cockroach Times" immediately after the CJI’s remarks.

According to the Indian Express, IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib emphasised the difference between the two “cockroaches". “We laid a siege to Education Minister Pradhan’s residence. All our state units have been holding protests," he said.

He said the organisation’s social media wing could be using the cockroach theme to tap into the algorithm. “We are not confined to social media; we are on the ground," he said.

CJP has unleashed other ‘cockroaches’ too

The Youth Congress is not the only entity competing for space in this Gen Z political wave. Fictional and satirical factions have emerged across social media, including:

National Parasitic Front (NPF): Acting as the “official spoof opposition" to the CJP, using internet irony to demand transparent governance.

Oggy Janata Party (OJP): A cartoon-inspired rival mimicking the classic showdown of Oggy and the Cockroaches.

Hit Janata Party (HJP): A pro-establishment digital camp pushing back against CJP memes using hashtags like “#HitTheCockroach."

News india Stung By Cockroach Janta Party’s Popularity, Congress Swarms X With ‘Indian Youth Cockroaches’

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