Manish Brahmbhatt Launches Cockroach Janta Party-Democratic Breakaway

Activist Manish Brahmbhatt launched the Cockroach Janta Party-Democratic (CJP-D) on September 3, 2026, creating a breakaway faction from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The split follows allegations that CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke abandoned the movement's student-led roots to align with Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal.

Brahmbhatt, a former CJP volunteer, claims the original movement—which began in May 2026 to protest examination paper leaks—was sold out and politicized. He alleges that the CJP's national working committee is a handpicked team that excludes women, Muslims, Sikhs, and grassroots volunteers in favor of AAP members. Brahmbhatt cited a specific incident in Delhi where volunteers' phones were confiscated during a meeting to prevent recording.

The dispute escalated after Brahmbhatt and Rahul Pandey protested outside Dipke's residence in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in August. While Dipke has asserted that the CJP is the "'A' team of the students" and intends for it to function as a public pressure group, Brahmbhatt argues the leadership has failed to address the injustice of paper leaks.

The CJP-D aims to establish a democratic national structure by electing five leaders per state through open voting. The new platform is currently recruiting members via social media, WhatsApp, and a missed-call facility to involve original protesters in decision-making.