Cockroach Janta Party debuts, admits two TMC MPs within days

"Secular, Socialist, Democratic, Lazy." This is the motto of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), India's latest political outfit or gimmick, whichever way you perceive it. The motto has been shared online even as the CJP is conducting a membership drive. Right below the motto is a description of the CJP, "A political front of the youth, by the youth, for the youth".

The Cockroach Janta Party is barely over two days old. Yet, it already claims 40,000 members. It has attracted thousands of followers on social media, and has even "admitted" two Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs who expressed their desire to join the outfit.

The CJP has pitched itself as a movement for people "frustrated with the regime". The social media posts of the party, founded by Abhijeet Dipke, have so far seen scores of prominent personalities engage with it, including social activist Anjali Bhardwaj, Trinamool Congress MPs Mahua Moitra and Kirti Azad and former civil servant Ashish Joshi.

Dipke, the CJP founder, earlier worked with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), according to reports. He worked in social media campaigning for the AAP in the 2020 Delhi Assembly polls and reported to the party's IT media head, Ankit Lal, according to a 2020 report in The Indian Express.

While Kirti Azad said he would like to join the CJP and asked for the "qualifications required", Mahua Moitra, reposting a CJP post, said she too, would like to join the party "besides being a card-carrying member of the Anti-National Party".

"You are the fighter democracy needs, Mahua Moitra. Welcome to the CJP," said the party's X handle, welcoming the Krishnanagar MP. Welcoming Bardhaman–Durgapur MP Kirti Azad to the CJP, the party said, "Winning the 1983 World Cup is a good enough qualification."

Cockroach? Why? The name, Cockroach Janta Party, appears to be a satirical reference to remarks by Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, made last week. He allegedly compared jobless youths entering fields like journalism, law or RTI activism to "cockroaches" and "parasites" attacking the system during a court hearing.

The remarks triggered backlash online, after which the CJI issued a clarification saying he was misquoted.

Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the CJP said, "Being the founder of Cockroach Janta Party, I condemn this clarification."