Opportunity that opposition must seize: Shashi Tharoor on Cockroach Janta Party

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor voiced support for the viral Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), a satirical political movement that has taken Indian social media by storm. Expressing that he is “incredibly intrigued” by its meteoric rise, Tharoor characterised the movement as a reflection of the youth’s frustration that the Opposition must address.

The CJP was founded by political strategist Abhijeet Dipke following backlash over alleged remarks by Chief Justice Surya Kant comparing unemployed youth to “cockroaches”. Positioning itself as a voice for the “lazy and unemployed”, the satirical outfit garnered over 20 million Instagram followers in just six days, surpassing the follower count of the ruling BJP.

The movement recently faced a significant hurdle when its account on X was withheld in India following a legal demand. Tharoor slammed the suspension as “disastrous and deeply unwise,” asserting that “democracies need outlets for dissent, humour, satire and even frustration”.

While acknowledging uncertainty regarding the movement’s long-term future, Tharoor urged Opposition parties to “seize this opportunity” by engaging with the dissent displayed by the youth.

I’m incredibly intrigued by the rise of #CockroachJantaParty, which has already reached more than 15 million followers on @Instagram in just five days.

I understand the frustrations of the youth and see why they are resonating with it. This is precisely why the account being… https://t.co/4qbaRN6oSz

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 21, 2026