Kathmandu— In August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered an unexpected defeat in the Bankipur constituency of Bihar, ending three decades of control. This loss followed the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan amid student-led protests spearheaded by the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ (CJP), a satirical group that originated on Instagram after India's chief justice likened unemployed youth to “cockroaches.” The unexpected results have prompted analysts to question whether the BJP, long considered India’s most formidable political machine, will be forced to adapt its approach to governance and communication.

A Party Scrambles for Social Media Relevance

The BJP's response to the Gen Z-led protests has been marked by awkward attempts at engagement. Prime Minister Modi reportedly urged cabinet colleagues to focus on Instagram reels rather than traditional media briefings, releasing a series of selfie-style videos addressing exam paper leaks. In Uttar Pradesh, the party launched an initiative directing civil administrators into schools for career counseling. However, these efforts have often backfired, with a gym-set video featuring internet slang widely mocked as inauthentic propaganda. Following the brief removal of a Modi video from Facebook, a parliamentary committee demanded an apology from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Shifting Narratives and Eroding Trust

Analysts suggest this scramble for social media relevance reveals a shift in the BJP’s communication strategy. New Delhi-based analyst Asim Ali notes that while the party's control over mainstream media remains strong, it struggles to generate organic engagement on platforms like Instagram. Gilles Verniers, a researcher at Sciences Po in Paris, describes the outreach as “a battle for perception” rather than a fundamental policy shift, pointing out the continued dominance of figures from the BJP’s ideological parent organization, the RSS. The protests have also challenged the long-held notion that Modi enjoys an unshakeable connection with India's youth, presenting him as increasingly out of touch.

Beyond By-Elections: A Broader Narrative

While the BJP lost two of three recent by-elections, analysts caution against overinterpreting these results. However, they agree that a broader narrative of challenges to the party is taking shape. Samajwadi Party MP Pushpendra Saroj observed that the education minister’s resignation only came after direct pressure on Prime Minister Modi himself. The protests also benefited from widespread sympathy and drew support from diverse demographics, including army veterans and even police officers – a departure from previous movements often confined to specific communities or groups.

A Movement's Future Remains Unclear

Many involved in the protests view them as part of a longer-term struggle against systemic issues. Anjali, a student leader with the All India Students’ Association (AISA), emphasizes that the movement represents accumulated anger over 12 years of perceived injustice. While the CJP appears unlikely to transition into a formal political party – citing the disappointing trajectory of the Aam Aadmi Party as a cautionary tale – its influence may lie in shaping the agendas of other opposition parties and fostering broader resistance. The BJP has not responded to requests for comment on these developments.

The long-term impact of this shift remains to be seen, but the protests have undeniably created a gap between the BJP’s political power and its perceived legitimacy – a disconnect that may prove difficult to bridge with traditional tactics.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.