What began as a satirical social media initiative eventually transformed into one of the country’s most talked-about student movements. Over the past several weeks, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) evolved from an online campaign into a nationwide protest demanding accountability over the alleged NEET paper leak and broader examination reforms. The movement attracted thousands of students to Delhi’s Jantar Mantar while gaining widespread support across social media platforms.
The campaign reached a turning point after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned and the Centre agreed to several key demands raised by the protesters. Following the government’s assurances, the CJP officially ended its 36-day agitation. As the movement concludes, here’s a closer look at the individuals who played pivotal roles in shaping the campaign and bringing national attention to the issue.
Abhijeet Dipke: The Man Who Started It All With CJP
Every major movement has a beginning, and for the Cockroach Janta Party, that journey started with Abhijeet Dipke. He launched the CJP’s social media presence in May this year as a satirical response to remarks made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, who had referred to some unemployed youth as “cockroaches” during an unrelated hearing.
What initially appeared to be political satire quickly resonated with young people across the country. Within a short period, the account witnessed massive online engagement and reportedly amassed more Instagram followers than the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Going to take a nap. See you all in a little while.#JaiHind #JaiBhim
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 25, 2026
Before emerging as a prominent student leader, Abhijeet Dipke had built a career in digital political communication, campaign strategy, and narrative building. He completed his undergraduate degree in Journalism from Pune before earning a Master’s degree in Public Relations from Boston University.
After consistently supporting students through social media, Dipke returned to India last month and led the first CJP demonstration at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. The movement soon spread to several other cities before developing into a sustained nationwide protest. Following Dharmendra Pradhan‘s resignation, Dipke posted a brief message on X:
“Going to take a nap. See you all in a little while.”
Saurav Das And Ashutosh Ranka Became The Public Faces
As the protests gathered momentum, the CJP announced its official spokespersons, with Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka emerging as two of the movement’s most recognisable faces. Both leaders played key roles in interacting with the media while also representing the organisation during negotiations with the government. Saurav Das is an investigative journalist with a background in Journalism and Mass Communication. According to his LinkedIn profile, he began his professional writing career in 2020.
His profile also mentions that he is currently working on a book that “explores how the Indian judiciary has contributed to the nation’s slide into electoral autocracy.”
Ashutosh Ranka brings a different professional background. He is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and the London School of Economics. Ranka previously worked as a consultant for McKinsey & Company in London before returning to India in 2025.
Since then, he has been associated with several public campaigns focusing on environmental issues, education, and youth-related causes. Throughout the CJP movement, both Das and Ranka remained central to discussions with government representatives during multiple rounds of negotiations.
Sonam Wangchuk Gave The Movement National Attention
While the CJP had already begun attracting attention, the movement expanded significantly after education reform activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the campaign. Known for his work in transforming education in Ladakh and often recognised as the real-life inspiration behind Phunsukh Wangdu from 3 Idiots, Wangchuk launched an indefinite hunger strike last month in support of the students’ demands. His participation drew widespread public attention.
Political leaders, celebrities, and thousands of supporters rallied behind the movement, making it one of the country’s biggest student-led campaigns in recent years. Born in a small village around 70 kilometres from Leh, Wangchuk later studied mechanical engineering before dedicating himself to educational reforms in Ladakh. His hunger strike continued for 26 days before it concluded at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also appealed to Wangchuk to focus on his recovery. He said,
“I urge Sonam ji to follow his routine as per the doctors’ advice and regain her old weight as soon as possible. I pray to the Lord that Sonam ji remains healthy.”
Neha Bora And Student Volunteers Stayed At The Frontline
धर्मेंद्र प्रधान को हार की बहुत-बहुत मुबारकबाद।
और देशभर के छात्रों को उनकी जीत की दिल से बहुत-बहुत मुबारकबाद
यह मुबारकबाद उन सभी आवाज़ों के नाम, जिन्होंने अपने हक़ के लिए डटकर संघर्ष किया@NehaBora_CJP #DharmendraPradhan #TimeToEndProtest #NEETExamProtest #EducationMinister pic.twitter.com/0DtCuIh8QG
— Neha Bora CJP (@NehaBora_CJP) July 25, 2026
Sonam Wangchuk was not alone in observing an indefinite fast. Three members of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) had already begun their hunger strike before Wangchuk joined the protest. Among them, Neha Bora emerged as one of the most visible student voices throughout the movement.
A PhD scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Bora frequently addressed supporters and shared updates from Jantar Mantar. On July 19, after alleging that Sonam Wangchuk had been forcibly shifted from the protest site to Safdarjung Hospital, she appealed for more people to join the agitation. She had said,
“I appeal to all of you to come to Jantar Mantar. This movement has not ended, and it will not end until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. Please make sure this message reaches everyone.”
Following the resignation announcement, Bora celebrated the development on social media. She posted,
“Congratulations on the defeat @dpradhanbjp.”
Along with Bora, Manish Kumar and Aameen Amitoj also continued their fast, becoming important faces of the student movement.
Government Accepts Key Demands
Following the third round of talks between government representatives and the CJP, the organisation announced that it was ending its protest. According to the CJP, the Centre agreed to several major demands raised during the agitation. Among them was the provision of the maximum possible compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET paper leak controversy.
The government also agreed that all FIRs filed by the Central Government and NDA-ruled states related to the protests would be withdrawn and that no future legal action would be taken against participants. In addition, the Centre agreed to consider the CJP’s five-point examination reform charter through future discussions. Addressing supporters after the announcement, Ashutosh Ranka appealed for a peaceful conclusion to the movement. He said,
“Go to your home peacefully.”
The CJP also announced that another meeting with the government would take place after four weeks to continue discussions on long-term examination reforms.
Conclusion
Over just a few weeks, the Cockroach Janta Party evolved from an online satirical campaign into a nationwide student movement that captured public attention and influenced national political discourse. From Abhijeet Dipke’s digital strategy and Ashutosh Ranka’s negotiations to Saurav Das’s public communication, Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike, and Neha Bora’s leadership on the ground, several individuals helped shape the movement at different stages.
With the protests now officially withdrawn and discussions on education reforms expected to continue, the movement leaves behind a significant chapter in the ongoing debate over transparency, accountability, and the future of India’s examination system.
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