Gen Z’s ‘cockroach’ party is challenging Modi over 130 million deleted voter names

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) emerged in May 2026, led by young activists protesting government actions. Initially sparked by the cancellation of medical school entrance exams, it escalated into a broader challenge against the government's alleged deletion of 130 million voter names. This prompted public demonstrations in Delhi, Mumbai, and other cities, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and halting the deletions pending an independent inquiry.

The CJP, composed primarily of Gen Z members, faced resistance from the government, with two of its spokespersons detained and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) refusing to concede on the voter roll issue, accusing protesters of undermining democracy. This movement, however, has successfully undermined the ruling party's image of invulnerability, questioning who constitutes "the people" and what democracy truly entails in a nation of nearly 1.5 billion.