From viral meme to political reality? Lawyer moves to register 'Cockroach Janata Party'

PANIPAT: In an unusual political development, a local attorney has approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking to officially register the 'Cockroach Janata Party' (CJP)—a satirical online collective that recently went viral across social media platforms—as a legitimate political party under his sole leadership.
Sudhir Jakhar, a practicing lawyer based in Haryana's Panipat district, filed the formal application with the apex election body. Strikingly, Jakhar’s petition seeks to register the political outfit independently under his own name, explicitly sidelining the internet community's original founder, Abhijeet Dipke, an NRI currently residing in the United States.
The application was moved under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which governs the registration of political parties in India.
In the official filing, Jakhar has designated himself as the "National Convenor" of the nascent party. To formalize the bid, the submission includes the group's signature "cockroach" logo alongside Jakhar's professional credentials as a legal practitioner.
Beyond gaining recognized political status, the move carries significant digital implications. If the ECI greenlights the application, Jakhar will secure a legal foothold to claim ownership and intellectual rights over the Cockroach Janata Party’s highly popular, verified social media handles and digital assets. The Election Commission is yet to issue a formal response to the quirky petition.