Senior BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar claimed the viral “Cockroach Party” campaign was a coordinated cross-border influence operation aimed at destabilising India
May 23, 2026: Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Saturday described the viral “Cockroach Party” campaign as a “cross-border influence operation” allegedly intended to destabilise India and weaken the Narendra Modi government. In a series of posts on X, Chandrasekhar claimed the online movement was being amplified by vested interests and supported by sections of the opposition.
He warned that in the age of artificial intelligence, bots and social media manipulation, influence operations could create “fake, seemingly organic narratives” capable of affecting national stability. According to Chandrasekhar, the “Cockroach Party” trend was part of a deliberate attempt to target India’s political and economic progress under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership.
The BJP leader also said India’s rapid growth and modernisation had created resentment among several countries and external forces. Referring to global challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, tensions involving the United States and Iran, energy crises and Chinese aggression, Chandrasekhar said India had remained resilient during difficult times. He added that the country should continue focusing on development, economic growth and national unity.