The Cockroach Movement: How Gen Z Turned Social Media into a Political Battlegroun
India's political landscape has increasingly shifted from television debates to Instagram reels, memes and digital activism. Whether one agrees with the movement or not, the rise of the so-called "Cockroach Janata Party" demonstrated how quickly a social-media campaign can evolve into a nationwide political conversation. The movement reportedly began after an Instagram account created by Abhijeet Dipke reacted to remarks attributed to the Chief Justice of India that many young people interpreted as dismissive. What started as memes soon expanded into discussions about paper leaks, unemployment and frustration with governance. The 2026 NEET-UG controversy became a rallying point, allowing thousands of students to connect their personal struggles with broader institutional concerns. Unlike many previous political campaigns that relied on television or traditional party structures, this movement spread primarily through Instagram and other social platforms. Viral videos, h...