Cockroach Party enters MP, holds press conference in Bhopal:Says movement is against a broken system; NEET paper leak victims join

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has formally entered Madhya Pradesh. On Friday, Mayank, a youth activist preparing for the civil services examination in Bhopal, addressed a press conference under the party’s banner. Young people affected by the NEET paper leak controversy, along with female students impacted by alleged irregularities in nursing and other competitive examinations, were also present. During the press conference, Mayank said that CJP is not merely a political party but a youth movement based on the priorities of Gen-Z. He said the platform is not aimed at opposing any individual or political party, but is a voice against what he described as a sluggish system that has broken the trust of young people. ‘Young voices are suppressed when they raise questions’ Mayank alleged that whenever young people raise questions about issues such as paper leaks, attempts are made to suppress their voices and even block their social media accounts. He said government institutions can no longer evade their moral responsibility. He announced that the Madhya Pradesh core committee of the organisation would be declared soon. Responding to allegations regarding foreign followers and Pakistani-linked accounts, he described them as “government propaganda”. According to him, the campaign in Madhya Pradesh has been launched under the guidance of the movement’s founder, Abhijeet Deepke. Scenes from the press conference CJP’s Mayank speaks to Dainik Bhaskar Question: What is your personal reason for joining the movement, and what is the party’s vision? Mayank: I am myself a civil services aspirant. Irregularities in examinations such as NEET have left the futures of 2.2 million young people hanging in the balance. The irony is that while investigative agencies are making arrests and examinations are being postponed, people occupying responsible positions are unwilling to acknowledge the problem. Our vision will become clearer in the coming days, but our objective is not to fight any government. We want to challenge flaws across the entire system, including the executive, legislature, judiciary and opposition. Question: If the vision and mission are still being developed, what was the purpose of holding a press conference now? Mayank: Our aim was to establish the presence of this movement. We want indifferent young people to become aware and start taking an active role at the grassroots level. Question: The founder of the movement is based abroad. How do you view that? Mayank: My argument is that even Mahatma Gandhi laid the ideological foundation of his movements in South Africa. The location is not important; the purpose is. Question: What was the symbolic meaning of keeping Melody chocolates at the press conference? Mayank: The message is simple: “Eat a Melody and find out for yourself.” It means that unless you become part of the system and observe it closely, you cannot truly understand its bitterness and reality. Question: Will this eventually contest elections as a political party? Mayank: At present, it is a movement. The Constitution gives every capable young person the right to contest elections, not only members of political families. The core committee will decide on that at the appropriate time. We are young people who believe in the law and the Constitution and will operate within democratic norms. CJI had said- Some youth are wandering like cockroaches On May 15, 2026, while hearing a petition, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant made remarks about young people. According to Live Law, he said: “There are youths wandering like cockroaches because they are unable to find employment in this profession. Some become part of the media, some social media, and some become RTI and other kinds of activists. They start attacking everyone.” The day after the remarks, a digital initiative called Cockroach Janata Party was launched. As controversy over the statement grew, the Chief Justice later clarified that his comments had been misrepresented. Founder Abhijeet Deepke studies in the United States Thirty-year-old Abhijeet Deepke is a digital media strategist from Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra. He studied journalism in Pune and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Relations at Boston University. Between 2020 and 2022, Deepke worked as a social media strategist for Aam Aadmi Party. During the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, he created viral meme-based online campaign content for the party. In an interview, Deepke said he left AAP in pursuit of personal stability and educational opportunities. After securing admission to Boston University, he moved to the United States. He has frequently criticised the central government and Prime Minister on X over issues ranging from the farmers’ protest to inflation. CJP described itself as a political party On its website, CJP describes itself as the political party of people whom the system has never counted. The website says: “Five demands, no sponsors, but a large and stubborn swarm.” The site contains sections on its manifesto, vision, eligibility criteria and contact information. It also describes itself as the voice of the lazy and unemployed. Its slogan is: “Secular, Socialist, Democratic, Lazy.” The party has listed four requirements for joining: 5 Big Promises in the Manifesto