Lately, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has taken the internet by storm, garnering over 22 million followers on Instagram, attracting massive support, particularly among Gen Z.
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Lately, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has taken the internet by storm, reportedly garnering over 22 million followers on Instagram. What began as satire has gradually evolved into something larger, attracting massive support, particularly among Gen Z.
However, the intent and direction behind this initiative need to be viewed with caution.
I am surprised to see several prominent opposition leaders also extending support to this emerging movement.
To better understand what may be unfolding, it is worth examining some demographics and trends. Nearly 65% of India's population is under the age of 35. Millennials and Gen Z together account for approximately 52% of the population, with Gen Z alone making up around 27–28%, many of whom will be eligible to vote by 2029.
More than 95% of people within this age group use smartphones. In recent years, the BJP has struggled in terms of public perception and digital optics. Ironically, the same platforms that once played a major role in helping the party rise to power have now become spaces where criticism and dissatisfaction are increasingly visible.
A glance through discussions and comment sections across social media platforms suggests that a significant number of young people appear frustrated and dissatisfied with the current government.
The BJP is undoubtedly aware of this changing landscape and does not want to concede this space to the opposition.
What raises questions around CJP is that several individuals associated with it have links with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a party which was tacitly backed by the BJP to weaken and displace the Congress in 2014.
To dispel any aspersions cast on the CJP, the present CJP leaders, in all fairness, should come clean and address the issues.
The Congress party, on the other hand, has played the role of a major opposition force over the last decade despite enormous threats and intimidation by various government agencies under the leadership of Modi-Shah. LoP Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly raised concerns regarding issues such as demonetisation, the handling of COVID-19, and the economy. However, corrective measures often came only after serious consequences had already emerged.
The Congress has also remained active on the ground, engaging with farmers, students, youth, women, and marginalised communities. It has consistently raised issues related to healthcare, education, employment, and the economy. Despite limited resources and significant political pressure, the party has continued to hold the government accountable.
At such a time, the emergence of the CJP raises serious questions and invites closer scrutiny, especially considering that several individuals associated with it were previously part of AAP. Lately, AAP appears to have shed its mask, with many of its leaders joining its original political home, i.e., the BJP.
As events continue to unfold, I urge Gen Z to think critically and tread carefully. Do not follow things blindly. Your voice matters and your choices matter even more. Information today is available at our fingertips, and who better than Gen Z to make the best use of technology? Participate, research, question, and engage, but ensure that your energy and efforts are invested wisely and do not go down the drain.
X Chophika Sümi