Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has alleged that the viral “Cockroach Party” social media movement is part of a larger cross-border influence operation
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Saturday claimed that the recently viral “Cockroach Janata Party” trend on social media was not merely political satire, but part of a coordinated influence operation allegedly designed to create instability and spread anti-government narratives online.
In a post on X, Chandrasekhar described the “#CockroachParty gambit” as a “classic cross-border influence operation” and warned about the growing use of bots, artificial intelligence and digital manipulation to create seemingly organic online campaigns.
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He said influence operations had become powerful tools in modern politics and could be used to shape public opinion through social media narratives.
Remarks on global tensions and India’s position
The BJP leader argued that India’s economic growth and modernisation had created resistance from various vested interests globally.
Referring to international crises including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, tensions involving the US and Iran, energy shocks and concerns over Chinese aggression, Chandrasekhar said India had remained resilient through difficult global conditions.
He also stated that political distractions or online campaigns would not derail the country’s development goals.
What is the Cockroach Janata Party?
The “Cockroach Janata Party” or CJP emerged online last week as a satirical digital movement and quickly gained attention across social media platforms.
The original X account linked to the movement was later withheld in India. Shortly after, another account titled “Cockroach is Back” appeared online with the tagline “Cockroaches Don’t Die”.
The movement has received support from some young political leaders and student activists in Kerala.
Among those who publicly expressed support were newly elected MLAs Abin Varkey, P K Navas, T P Ashrafali and V K Sanoj.
Student leaders linked to the Students' Federation of India also spoke in favour of the movement.
Bengaluru Police issue advisory
Meanwhile, the Bengaluru City Police issued a public advisory cautioning people against participating in or circulating social media messages related to a proposed “peaceful human chain” programme allegedly organised by a Karnataka unit of the Cockroach Janata Party.
Police clarified that no permission had been granted for such an event near Bengaluru Town Hall on May 24 and urged the public not to spread unverified information online.
The controversy has now expanded into a wider debate over political satire, online activism and the role of social media narratives in Indian politics.
Published: 23 May 2026, 11:28 am IST
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