The name “Cockroach Janata Party” is now resonating strongly across the country. What began as a social media post has, within a matter of days, galvanized thousands of young people into a unified movement. A 36-day protest held at Jantar Mantar in Delhi ultimately escalated to the point of prompting the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The identities, educational backgrounds, and professional profiles of the 12 individuals behind this movement — along with the organization’s origins — have since drawn considerable public interest.
The founder of the Cockroach Janata Party is Abhijeet Deepke, from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra, who studied journalism and mass communication before completing a Master’s degree in Public Relations from Boston University. He is joined by co-convenors Ashutosh Ranka, an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and the London School of Economics, and Saurav Das, who holds a degree in journalism.
Ashutosh Ranka, 30, hails from Jaipur, Rajasthan, and was appointed co-convenor after completing his B.Tech at IIT Kanpur and a Master’s in Public Administration at the London School of Economics. Saurav Das, 27, from Delhi, also serves as co-convenor, having studied journalism and mass communication. Ajinkya Shinde, 35, from Latur in Maharashtra, was appointed national organizational in-charge; he completed his B.Tech from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University in Lonere, Raigad.
The recently announced 12-member team comprises engineers, lawyers, chartered accountants, journalists, and entrepreneurs. Vijay Reddy Mallangi of Hyderabad has been appointed media lead and South Zone head. The organization’s origins trace back to May 2026, when Abhijeet Deepke posted a satirical remark on social media in response to comments made about youth during a Supreme Court hearing — a post that eventually evolved into what became the Cockroach Janata Party. The movement gradually transitioned from an online campaign into an on-ground protest that culminated at Jantar Mantar. The organization has, however, clarified that it currently has no plans to transition into a formal political party, leaving its future direction a subject of continued interest.