Cockroach Janta Party leader Abhijeet Dipke detained before protest
Summary
Indian police detained Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, on October 8, 2026, as he arrived in New Delhi to lead a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Dipke's movement, which began from a viral social media post where he likened unemployed youth to "cockroaches," has evolved into a significant political force, successfully pressuring the resignation of a federal minister earlier this year. His latest protest aims to address concerns over voter registration procedures, which recent reports indicate have faced scrutiny from election commission deputies. Despite a police clampdown and heavy security in Delhi to prevent demonstrations, Dipke has urged his supporters to protest peacefully, echoing the principles of Mahatma Gandhi.