'Covert Political Project': Ex-Civil Servant Quits Cockroach Janta Party, Claims Initiative 'Not Genuinely Independent'

Last Updated:May 22, 2026, 15:15 IST

Former civil servant Ashish Joshi withdrew his support for the CJP, saying he did not want to be associated with a movement that was “not genuinely independent”

Cockroach Janta Party, a satire platform, emerged as one of India’s most talked-about online campaigns. It gained over 20 million followers on Instagram within a week of its launch. However, questions are rising over its alleged links with Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The viral movement was launched on May 16 by Abhijeet Dipke, a political communication student based in the United States, who introduced the mock “party" through a Google Form on X, inviting people to register. What began as an online joke soon turned into a major youth-driven social media movement.

Before launching the CJP, Dipke worked with the Aam Aadmi Party between 2020 and 2023, where he was involved in social media strategy and election campaigning. During the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, he reportedly worked on meme-based digital campaigns focused on political messaging and youth outreach.

Questions Over Political Independence Intensify

Former civil servants and educationists have alleged that the CJP might not be an independent citizens’ initiative at all, but a “covert political project" linked to the AAP.

Former civil servant Ashish Joshi publicly withdrew his support for the campaign, saying he did not want to be associated with a movement that was “not genuinely independent".

Joshi, who had initially backed the CJP and praised its outreach, publicly sought clarification from founder Dipke on whether the movement had any connection with the AAP.

In a post on X, Joshi said that several people had approached him claiming that the CJP was an AAP-backed initiative.

“People are saying that I should stay away from the experiment. So I request you to clarify whether CJP is an independent initiative or not," Joshi said, adding that he considered himself politically neutral and did not wish to be part of a political party’s campaign.

After receiving no response within the 24-hour deadline he had set, Joshi announced his withdrawal from the movement.

“CJP has potential, and I wish them well, but I refuse to be part of a movement that is not genuinely independent," Joshi said.

Additionally, Educationist Sandeep Manudhane warned social media users to “beware" of the sudden rise of the Cockroach Janta Party, alleging that it was “an AAP venture" aimed at reshaping opposition politics through digital mobilisation.

Drawing parallels with the India Against Corruption movement led by Anna Hazare, Manudhane said, “Fool me once (IAC), shame on you. Fool me twice (CJP), shame on me."

BJP MP Questions Dipke’s Funding

The controversy deepened after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused Dipke of being associated with AAP through his earlier work in the party’s social media and election campaign operations.

Dubey questioned who funded Dipke’s stay in Boston and suggested possible foreign involvement behind the campaign.

Dipke, who is currently studying public relations at Boston University, has acknowledged his past association with AAP but denied having any present connection with the party led by Arvind Kejriwal.

Supreme Court lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani also criticised the movement, calling it a “deep state Trojan horse" and alleging that it resembled a political influence experiment.

“A political lab project is underway by the deep state – a ‘Trojan horse’ has been planted from the US. This is how Arvind Kejriwal was manufactured once. Now it looks like the same lab is testing a Gen Z prototype. The Cockroach Janta Party is a political influence experiment, purportedly by Abhijeet Dipke – a former AAP social media worker. India has seen this template before. First, sell it as innocence. Then sell it as youth anger. Then sell it as anti-corruption. Then sell it as democracy. Then use it to attack every institution that does not bend to the ecosystem," he said in a post on X.

Jethmalani further questioned the funding, narrative management and amplification behind the campaign, asking who was backing the initiative and whether foreign-linked influence networks stood to benefit from rising public distrust in institutions.

Sisodia’s Endorsement Fuels Speculation

Speculation around the CJP’s political links intensified after senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia publicly endorsed the campaign in an Instagram reel posted on May 20.

“If there is a war between a crocodile and cockroaches, I will proudly stand with the Cockroach Janata Party," Sisodia said.

Social media users later circulated an older post by Dipke in which he thanked Sisodia for opportunities provided during his time with AAP before leaving for Boston.

What Is Cockroach Janta Party?

Cockroach Janta Party was a parody page which was launched after Chief Justice Surya Kant called young, unemployed Indians ‘cockroaches’, but it soon turned into a full-blown political outfit.

Dipke said the “Cockroach Janta Party" was created as a sarcastic response to those comments and as a platform for frustrated young Indians. Within hours, thousands reportedly signed up through the online form, while the Instagram page quickly exploded in popularity through memes, reels and political satire.

The trend drew reactions from several prominent opposition leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav and Mahua Moitra, helping the movement gain traction across social media platforms.

The CJP’s manifesto contains a mix of satirical and politically charged demands targeting India’s political and institutional systems. Among its demands are strict action against exam fraud, abolition of rechecking fees in school boards, transparency under the RTI Act and a ban on post-retirement Rajya Sabha positions for retired judges.

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