Pinarayi pulls the trigger on Janta’s cockroach party

Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan strongly criticized the holding of the Cockroach Janta Party’s X Party handle in the country.

In a statement, Mr. Vijayan alleged that the handle of the X Youth Movement was denied at the request of the Union Government. This reflected intolerance of democratic protest. “It also exposes the fear that the Cockroach Janta Party will emerge as a political protest movement. Why is the BJP so afraid?” Mr. Vijayan asked.

He said the platform has gained more attention and followers in a very short span of time than BJP’s official promotional mechanisms. That this sudden movement attracted young people experiencing unemployment and neglect reflects their deep dissatisfaction with current socio-political circumstances.

The protest against unemployed youth being labeled as “cockroaches” should not be dismissed as a knee-jerk reaction. It showed the intensity of a strong political reaction against unemployment and a system riddled with inequality and exploitation. Fears that this sentiment might spread across the country led the Union government to suppress democratic voices, Vijayan said.

One could disagree with the political ideas or the nature of the protests. However, attempts to quell the protest of youth exercising the right to freedom of expression or organization by abusing laws or administration went against the soul of democratic India and constitutional values, he said and called for strong protests against the Union government.

Published – 23 May 2026 21:50 IST