The Rise of the Cockroach Janta Party and the Fall of Dharmendra Pradhan

“Thanks for calling us cockroaches.” Those were the words of Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), as he addressed supporters at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, shortly after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned amid mounting pressure from student-led protests.

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Speaking from the protest stage, Dipke reflected on the unexpected origins of the movement. “I would like to thank Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. If he had not called us cockroaches, I would never have returned to India, and this movement would never have begun,” he said.

The remark refers to a Supreme Court hearing held on May 15 regarding the designation of Senior Advocates. During the proceedings, CJI Surya Kant commented that there were “youngsters like cockroaches” who struggled to find employment and lacked opportunities within the legal profession. Following widespread criticism, the Chief Justice clarified that his comments were aimed specifically at individuals holding fake law degrees and not at unemployed youth in general. He later stated that parts of the media had misrepresented his remarks.

Despite the clarification, the comment quickly gained traction online. The following day, Dipke, then a student in Boston and a former communications strategist associated with the Aam Aadmi Party, posted a satirical response on social media. On May 16, he formally announced the creation of the Cockroach Janta Party, presenting it as a platform for unemployed and frustrated young people. In a tongue-in-cheek message, he described its members as those who were jobless, perpetually online, and highly skilled at expressing their frustrations.

What began as an online satire soon evolved into a broader protest movement. As public anger intensified over the alleged NEET-UG examination paper leak, Dipke returned to India in early June and began leading demonstrations at Jantar Mantar.

The movement’s principal demand was the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, whom protesters held politically accountable for the examination controversy. The campaign gained further momentum when education reform advocate Sonam Wangchuk joined the agitation and launched an indefinite hunger strike on June 28.

Wangchuk’s fast continued for 26 days before ending earlier this week after the Central Government provided written assurances. These included commitments that no action would be taken against peaceful protesters, that Parliament would discuss examination reforms and accountability measures, and that compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide in connection with the examination controversy would be considered.

Even after Wangchuk ended his fast, the Cockroach Janta Party maintained its demand for Pradhan’s resignation. The movement persisted despite a police crackdown on protesters on July 20 and the government’s initial refusal to concede to the demand.

In his resignation letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pradhan stated that his decision was guided by concerns for students’ futures. He also argued that stepping down would help ensure that “anti-national elements” could not exploit the ongoing protests at Jantar Mantar or elsewhere in the country.

The resignation marks a significant political development and a notable victory for a movement that transformed a controversial courtroom remark into a nationwide campaign for accountability in the education sector.