Abhijeet Deepke, founder of the digital group “Cockroach Janata Party” (CJP), has launched an online petition seeking the resignation of the Union Education Minister over the alleged NEET paper leak case. The initiative has gained attention on social media and is being discussed among young users across the country.
Deepke said the petition is intended as a peaceful form of digital protest against alleged irregularities in the system and appeals for public support. In a video posted on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, he said the objective is not to escalate political confrontation but to seek accountability in the education system.
According to Deepke, incidents of paper leaks in examinations such as NEET affect the future of students. He said the petition demanding the Education Minister’s resignation was initiated in response to these concerns. He further claimed that signatures from thousands of people could serve as a democratic means of exerting pressure on the government.
The “Cockroach Janata Party” is not a conventional political party but a digital social movement started by Deepke. It describes itself as aligned with a “secular, socialist, democratic and lazy” ideology and states that its objective is to bring together young people, unemployed individuals and social media-active users on a common platform.
The movement’s website and online material present it as a symbolic and satirical initiative that uses internet culture to question the system.
Following the rapid spread of the digital movement, Deepke’s parents publicly expressed concern over his safety. Speaking to a Marathi news channel, his parents, who live in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra, said they were worried about the possibility of their son facing legal or administrative action.
Deepke’s father said he had been unable to sleep properly in recent days due to concerns that his son could encounter legal or administrative difficulties. His mother said she learned about the activities through neighbours and expressed a wish that her son remain away from politics and controversies.
The organisation has also raised concerns regarding its social media presence. CJP claimed that its earlier X account had been blocked, after which a new account was created. The organisation said the rapid growth in followers on the new account increased attention toward the movement.
Deepke has also alleged attempts to hack his Instagram and personal accounts. However, these claims have not been independently verified.
The movement attributes its growing visibility among young people to its use of social media, memes and viral content, which it says has enabled wider engagement. It also points to dissatisfaction linked to unemployment and alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, which it says the platform symbolically represents.
The movement has put forward several symbolic proposals in its informal manifesto, including increasing accountability in the system, curbing corruption, increasing political representation for women, stricter anti-defection laws, a ber position on media freedom and greater transparency in the electoral system. It states that these proposals are presented in a satirical and conceptual form rather than as an official political agenda.
At present, the Cockroach Janata Party is not an officially recognised political party and has not received recognition from the Election Commission. As such, it cannot participate in electoral politics. According to experts, registration with the Election Commission would be required if it seeks to establish itself as a formal political party in the future.
Deepke, who is from Maharashtra, is described as a digital media strategist. After studying journalism, he worked in political digital campaigning and was previously associated with a political party’s social media campaign. He is currently studying abroad and has remained active on social media on political and social issues.
