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Akhilesh joins ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ trend, has a cryptic message on UP elections

Akhilesh Yadav was the latest to join the trend with a 3-word tweet in Hindi: "BJP banam CJP" (or BJP versus CJP).

Updated on: May 20, 2026 10:41 PM IST
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Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has joined the list of leaders invoking the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’, a satirical political group that has gained traction online, suggesting a direct contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the so-called ‘CJP’.

Samajwadi Party National President Akhilesh Yadav during a press conference at the party office, in Lucknow on Wednesday. Party MP Kiranmoy Nanda also present. (ANI Photo) (Naeem Ansari )
Samajwadi Party National President Akhilesh Yadav during a press conference at the party office, in Lucknow on Wednesday. Party MP Kiranmoy Nanda also present. (ANI Photo) (Naeem Ansari )

'Cockroach Janta Party' or the 'CJP' was born out of satire after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant's controversial statement on unemployed youths. Since then, the CJP has became an online sensation, with several opposition leaders, including Mahua Moitra and Kirti Azad, joining the trend.

Also Read: Cockroach Janata Party vs National Parasitic Front: The new political battle brewing in India

Akhilesh was the latest to join the trend with a 3-word tweet in Hindi: "BJP banam CJP" (or BJP versus CJP).

Though the 3-word post of the Samajwadi Party leader fell short of giving any context or details, the timing and the BJP reference had several political undertones.

Akhilesh's post comes at a time when the BJP is gearing up for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, a high-stake contest for the saffron camp and the SP.

Unemployed youths is a key agenda this election season, with the opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party trying to bank the issue in its favour.

Akhilesh, along with other parties like Congress, have targeted the BJP government at the state and Centre, over several issues concerning youth, including jobs and paper leaks.

'Cockroach Janta Party' satire or serious politics

It all began with a controversial remarks from Chief Justice Surya Kant, who on Friday compared some unemployed youth to “cockroaches” and “parasites” triggering massive outrage online.

Since then, the internet banked on the buzzword ‘cockroach’ and soon an internet user came up with a social media page ‘Cockroach Janta Party’. The satirical party describes itself as the “Voice of the Lazy & Unemployed,” headquartered “wherever the wifi works.”

Though the page was full of memes and parody, but the concerns echoed real-life issues. Within days, the parody page attained over a million followers on social media, turning an internet joke into a viral political moment.

Soon, several leaders, including Trinamool Congress MPs Mahua Moitra and Kirti Azad, joined the trend. Celebrities, including filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, actors Konkona Sen Sharma and Esha Gupta have also started following CJP’s Instagram handle.

  • Majid Alam
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Majid Alam

    Majid Alam is a Chief Content Producer working at Hindustan Times, based in New Delhi. He currently heads shifts at online desk and manages homepage apart from writing, editing and curating articles. With over six years of experience in journalism, Majid has navigated national, politics and international news. His work primarily focuses on the politics of the Hindi heartland, government policies, and South Asia. He also writes on US and Europe’s policies vis-à-vis India. Before joining Hindustan Times, Majid worked at ABP LIVE as the Chief Copy Editor and at News18, where he managed the World and Explainers sections. His articles have featured in Dialogue Earth, The Quint, BMJ, The Diplomat, and Outlook India. Majid has a keen interest in the use of data for storytelling. Majid holds a Masters in Convergent Journalism from Jamia Millia Islamia. He was awarded the Erasmus+ scholarship to study International Affairs at Sciences Po, Paris in 2020. He is also part of the OCEANS Network, an alumni network of Erasmus+ exchange scholars. He is currently serving as the National Representative (India) at the OCEANS Network. Apart from journalism, Majid has a flair for academic writing and loves to teach. He has published a book chapter: 'Bombay Cinema and Postmodernism' in the book: 'Handbook of Research on Social and Cultural Dynamics in Indian Cinema.' He was also part of the OCEANS Network delegation to Hanoi National University of Education in Vietnam in 2025. He has also given guest lecture in digital journalism at AJK MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia.Read More

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