From NEET Protests to the Political Arena: Inside the Cockroach Janta Party’s Next Move

When the NEET‑UG 2026 paper leaked, a wave of grief‑turned‑anger swept across campuses. Students, families and activists flooded Jantar Mantar, demanding answers for a tragic string of suicides linked to the scandal. At the heart of that mobilisation were two young faces – Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka – who now helm the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a movement that calls itself a voice for the disillusioned youth.

Their protests did more than fill the air with chants; they rattled the corridors of power. Within weeks, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down, citing a need to protect the nation’s unity and to keep “even one student’s future” from getting tangled in legal battles. His exit paved the way for Pralhad Joshi, a veteran BJP leader, to take over the education portfolio.

In the aftermath, the media’s spotlight turned to Das and Ranka. Are they about to trade protest placards for party tickets? Both men gave candid answers in recent interviews, and the nuance is worth unpacking.

Ranka, speaking to NDTV, admitted the last two months felt like a marathon without a finish line. “I’ve been away from home for a while, and honestly, all I want now is to go back, sleep a bit and spend time with my family,” he said, his voice tinged with fatigue. He described the experience as “overwhelming” but also “a moment of pride,” adding that once he recharges, “we’ll see how it goes.” When pressed about diving into full‑time politics, his reply was characteristically non‑committal: “Never say no to anything in India is what I feel.”

Das, an investigative journalist‑turned‑activist, was a bit more explicit about the movement’s roadmap. He clarified that CJP is not gearing up to field candidates immediately. “Our immediate goal isn’t to jump into parliamentary seats,” he explained. “We want to push this agenda to the grassroots, because with 750‑800 parties out there, none seem to truly capture the aspirations of today’s youth.” He painted a picture of a network that would pressure any party or leader in power to address student concerns – a kind of watchdog from the streets.

The resignation of Pradhan was not an isolated incident in recent Indian politics. It echoed the exits of M J Akbar in 2018 after #MeToo allegations and Suresh Prabhu in 2017 when he took moral responsibility for deadly train derailments. Each departure, though driven by different scandals, underscored a pattern where public outcry can translate into cabinet shake‑ups.

For Das and Ranka, the lesson is clear: sustained mobilisation can force accountability. Their next chapter, whether it’s a formal party launch or a continued pressure‑group model, remains to be seen. What is evident, however, is that the energy that ignited at Jantar Mantar is still simmering, waiting for the right moment to either burst onto the electoral stage or stay firmly rooted in civic activism.

Whatever path they choose, one thing is certain – the youth of India are watching, and they expect more than slogans. They want tangible change, whether it comes from a parliamentary seat or from a relentless street‑level movement.