Cockroach fever crosses into Pakistan, spawns Cockroach Awami Party

New Delhi,UPDATED: May 22, 2026 12:44 IST

Cockroaches are notoriously difficult to eliminate and quick to multiply. That is exactly what now appears to be happening with a political movement that began as a satire. The meteoric rise of India's Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) across social media platforms has inspired a wave of groups across the border in Pakistan. Among the groups there are the Cockroach Awami Party (CAP) and the Cockroach Awami League (CAL).

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) emerged in mid-May as a reaction to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant reportedly comparing unemployed youth engaged in activism to "cockroaches" and "parasites". Though the CJI later clarified, a storm had begun building.

Seizing on the remark, US-based public relations graduate and former Aam Aadmi Party associate Abhijeet Dipke launched the CJP on May 16 on social media platforms and a Google-form-based membership drive. "Yeah, I am the cockroach. The Chief Justice of India was exactly talking about me," Dipke told India Today TV in an exclusive interview.

Within days, the cockroach party's Instagram account had amassed more than 15 million followers, overtaking the official handles of both the BJP and Congress.

The CJP branded itself as a voice for "lazy and unemployed" youth and mixes satire with real political grievances. Its demands included better education and healthcare, improved employment opportunities, reforms in examination systems, stronger public services, and greater accountability from authorities.

Although the party's X account was withheld in India on Thursday, it quickly resurfaced through a new handle posting, "You thought you can get rid of us? Lol". The group has also filed trademark applications and claims to have received massive sign-ups through its website.

The cockroach party becoming an online hit didn't go unnoticed globally with media across the world reporting on it. Soon, the cockroach fever spread to Pakistan.

COCKROACH PARTIES COME UP IN PAKISTAN, TAKE ON PPP, PML-N

Soon after, Pakistani versions of the Cockroach Janta Party began surfacing online. One of the earliest was the Instagram page Cockroach Awami Party, which openly acknowledged its inspiration from the Indian movement with the bio: "Yeah copied but who cares. Motto is same". As of filing this story, the account had crossed 1,400 followers.

The Pakistani account says it is "not associated with any single person or any single team" and aims to become "the real voice of every Gen-Z" in Pakistan. While its logo is similar to its Indian counterpart, it uses a green-and-white branding and positions itself as an alternative to mainstream parties such as the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League (N) or PML-N, and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Most of its content consists of memes and short-form reels reposted from individual creators. The account has also promised to unveil its own official motto on May 28.

Similar pages have appeared on X as well. One account, @CockroachAP, describes itself with the line: "Jinhein system ne cockroach samjha, hum unhi awaam ki awaaz hain" (Those whom the system treated as cockroaches, we are the voice of those people).

Another page calling itself Cockroach Awami League Pakistan claims to be the "official account" of the Cockroach Awami League (CAL) and uses the Urdu slogan "Har halaat mein zinda hain" (We remain alive in every situation).

While India's Cockroach Janta Party has a clear founder, a manifesto, and an official website, the Pakistani offshoots remain far more fragmented, with multiple creators launching their own versions independently. The Pakistani versions are using the cockroach as a symbol of resilience to express youth frustration with unemployment, governance, and political systems through satire.

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