Kottayam, 27 July (H.S) :A poster featuring an AI-generated cockroach mascot has sparked a political controversy at Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU), with the university administration and the students' union at odds over whether the imagery represents political content or student solidarity.

The dispute centres on promotional material for the university union's national conference, Discourses Beyond Boundaries: Sustainable Future in an Age of Conflict, scheduled to be held on the Kottayam campus from August 3 to 6. The posters prominently feature the virtual mascot of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), an online student movement that emerged during the nationwide protests demanding the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The first poster, depicting two cockroaches in solidarity, was released on June 20, coinciding with the launch of the CJP's indefinite sit-in at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar. A second poster, released on July 21, showed a lone cockroach standing defiantly before a looming boot. More recently, the union issued another poster featuring an image of student protester Rhiya Ahir, whose photograph during demonstrations in Mumbai became a widely recognised symbol of the movement.

The controversy escalated after interim Vice-Chancellor Dr D. Mavoothu directed that posters featuring the cockroach mascot be removed, citing a university circular issued on July 25. The circular prohibits political activity or political content in programmes conducted using university funds, mandates prior approval for the use of the university emblem, and requires publicity materials to identify the approving authority.

The university union has refused to remove the posters, maintaining that the visuals merely reflect solidarity with student struggles and are not political propaganda. It has also argued that the circular is being selectively enforced, noting that the posters do not display the university emblem and that union funds are collected from students to support student activities. The issue has further fuelled political debate, with the union alleging ideological bias behind the administration's decision.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman