Tamil Nadu CM C Joseph Vijay directs officials to curb student participation in Left, TNCJP protests

Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay has directed officials to take steps to prevent students and young people from joining protests organised by Left-wing parties and the Tamil Nadu Cockroach Janata Party.

The Directorate of Collegiate Education (DCE) has asked the School Education Department, Higher Education Department, Police Department and district administrations to work together on the issue, ANI reported.

Officials have been asked to take “appropriate coordinated action” to prevent students and youth from joining such protests and immediately send details of the action taken to the department.

The notice said the matter was “very urgent.”

The department referred to a government letter dated August 14 which called for coordination between the School Education, Higher Education and Police departments, as well as district administrations.

What is Tamil Nadu Cockroach Janta Party?

The TNCJP is a group in Tamil Nadu that has approached the Election Commission seeking registration as a regional political party. The group is reportedly led by Tamil Nadu-based lawyer C Brahma Balasubramaniam. Its members say they want to focus on issues such as social justice and the rights of workers, students and farmers in the state.

The group says it is inspired by the mainstream Cockroach Janta Party movement but is a separate organisation. The national online movement was started by Abhijeet Dipke and gained attention among young people through social media and protests.

The cockroach became a symbol of the movement after remarks targeting protesting youth. Supporters used it to represent survival and resistance. In Tamil Nadu, the name has also been used at local protests, including demonstrations over employment and examination-related issues.