New Delhi (TIP): The founder of the viral satirical outfit Cockroach Janata Party has claimed that he fears arrest upon returning to India after the group’s X account was withheld in the country amid its meteoric rise on social media. Abhijeet is currently based in Boston, US.
Speaking in an interview to The Red Mike, Abhijeet Dipke said he believes he could be detained immediately upon landing in Delhi.
“I feel that as soon as I land at Delhi airport, a convoy of Delhi Police will take me to Tihar Jail,” Dipke said.
The remarks come days after the parody political outfit exploded online, amassing nearly 19.1 million followers on Instagram in just five days, overtaking the Instagram following of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which currently has around 8.7 million followers on the platform.
From satire to viral political phenomenon
What began as a parody page following a remark by Chief Justice Surya Kant has rapidly evolved into a full-fledged online political movement drawing support from opposition leaders, influencers, comedians and celebrities. The CJP has received endorsements and social media backing from leaders, including Mahua Moitra, Kirti Azad and Akhilesh Yadav, among others.
Explaining the sentiment behind the outfit’s popularity, Dipke said, “Finally, we have come to know of our identity in this country that we are seen like cockroaches.”
However, he downplayed the significance of surpassing the BJP’s follower count.
“I am not happy that we have more followers. What will happen with it? The issues remain the same,” he said.
Earlier, the X account of the Cockroach Janata Party was withheld in India. Sharing a screenshot of the notice displayed on the platform, Dipke wrote: “As expected Cockroach Janta Party’s account has been withheld in India.”
Dipke, 30, is currently in the United States after recently completing a Public Relations programme at Boston University. Before moving abroad, he worked in political communication, digital messaging and online campaign strategy. He completed his undergraduate studies in journalism in Pune.
The sudden rise of the satirical outfit has triggered intense debate online, with supporters describing it as a reflection of public frustration and critics dismissing it as social media theatrics.
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