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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 4:59:11 pm

Fadnavis seeks judicial probe against chiefs

AI Generated Image Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Monday, requested Governor Jishnu Dev Verma to constitute a committee to investigate the current and former chairpersons of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) over an exam paper leak by invoking Article 317 of the Constitution, even as opposition MLA Rohit Pawar issued a two-day ultimatum to the state government, warning that the protesting MPSC aspirants will either shut down Pune city or storm the Mantralaya if...

Fadnavis seeks judicial probe against chiefs

AI Generated Image Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Monday, requested Governor Jishnu Dev Verma to constitute a committee to investigate the current and former chairpersons of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) over an exam paper leak by invoking Article 317 of the Constitution, even as opposition MLA Rohit Pawar issued a two-day ultimatum to the state government, warning that the protesting MPSC aspirants will either shut down Pune city or storm the Mantralaya if the commission’s leadership is not held accountable. The chief minister’s recommendation to the Governor follows a high-level meeting with a delegation of students preparing for competitive exams. Responding to their primary demand for the immediate removal of MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar, the government clarified that a constitutional inquiry is legally mandated before any dismissal. Consequently, Fadnavis has urged the Governor to appoint a retired High Court judge to head the probe committee, requesting a report within three months to facilitate further administrative action. Honoring another commitment made during the meeting, the state government issued orders transferring MPSC Secretary Mahendra Harpalkar from his post. The current unrest stems from the leaked Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug inspector examination paper, a breach that recently led to the arrest of several accused individuals and three beneficiary students. However, the state government’s actions have failed to quell the agitation in Pune, which has now entered its fifth day and fractured into three distinct groups over varying demands, including disputes over descriptive versus objective exam patterns. The protest site has rapidly transformed into a political flashpoint, drawing visits from prominent leaders across the spectrum, including Sharad Pawar, Raj Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, and Manoj Jarange Patil. Taking an aggressive stance on the ground, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar cautioned the administration that a massive escalation is imminent. Anticipating a potential visit by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on October 7 or 8, Pawar estimated that over one lakh students could soon take to the streets. He stated that the students and their parents will heed calls to lock down Pune entirely or march directly to the state secretariat in Mumbai if the government fails to clean up the alleged corruption within the MPSC. The escalating standoff also triggered a direct political exchange between Pawar and Minister Nitesh Rane. Rane urged Pawar not to hold students hostage for political optics, emphasizing that the issue concerns the future of the youth and should not be used as a political launchpad. Rane sarcastically extended an olive branch, stating that as friends, they might even work together as cabinet ministers in the future. Pawar quickly dismissed the overture, retorting that Rane should focus on demanding Bhimanwar’s resignation from his own government rather than predicting future alliances. Pawar quipped that the BJP’s sudden collaborative tone indicates they have realized a change in government is imminent, urging Rane to show the courage to sit in the opposition. Meanwhile, the ruling BJP launched a fierce counter-offensive, categorizing the Pune protests as a staged political event rather than a genuine student movement. Addressing a press conference at the BJP state office, chief spokesperson Navnath Ban alleged that 80 percent of the crowd consists of political workers. Ban claimed that after genuine students boycotted the initial days of the protest, Pawar orchestrated the arrival of employees from Baramati Agro and local sugar factories in 200 to 250 vehicles bearing political flags. Defending the MPSC chairman, Ban pointed out that the paper leak did not even occur during Bhimanwar’s tenure as he took charge in March 2026 and noted that the student delegation that met with Fadnavis in Mumbai had already expressed satisfaction with the government’s intervention. To bolster his claim of political infiltration, the BJP spokesperson cited a recent incident where Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Omraje Nimbalkar was met with hostile “traitor” slogans at the protest site, arguing this proved the crowd consisted of partisan workers rather than competitive exam aspirants seeking academic reforms.

BJP Boost

Correspondent
Oct 9, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

As the dust settles over the recent Assembly elections, the BJP, defying anti-incumbency prediction of political Cassandras and exit polls, is set for a historic third term in Haryana. This will buoy the party after its underwhelming performance in the Lok Sabha polls. The Haryana outcome not only reinforces the BJP’s foothold in national politics but also presents a counter-narrative to the INDIA bloc’s post-election fervour.

Despite the bogey stoked by lingering farmer protests and discontent surrounding the controversial Agniveer scheme, the BJP strategically diversified its approach, relying not solely on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s star power—evidenced by his reduced number of rallies—but also on a ground-level consolidation of anti-Jat votes. The Congress’s over-reliance on the Jat community backfired, rallying other groups against it. Interestingly, the Dalit vote, which the Congress anticipated would tilt in its favour, has not completely abandoned the BJP.


At the forefront of the BJP's campaign was Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, whose relatively short tenure allowed him to distance himself from the decade-long rule of the previous administration. By introducing measures to benefit the backward classes, including a significant income limit increase for OBC employment from Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 8 lakh, the BJP effectively shifted the narrative in its favour. Their mantra of ‘bina parchi, bina kharchi Naukri (promising jobs without bribes) resonated with voters.


The BJP’s rejuvenated team, led by key figures such as Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and state leaders, has seemingly addressed concerns that arose following its poor showing in the Lok Sabha elections. The incorporation of new candidates in place of established leaders provided a fresh face that contrasted sharply with the Congress’s decision to recycle incumbents.


In contrast, in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference, in alliance with the Congress, having crossed the majority threshold, reclaimed its historic dominance and is set to form the government. Here, the BJP’s performance in the first Assembly election held after the abrogation of Article 370, fell short despite its strenuous attempt to position itself as a proponent of development.


The electorate’s apparent rejection of hardline factions like the PDP reflects a nuanced response and win for democracy. Notably, the results have shown a significant rejection of separatist candidates, including those from Engineer Rashid-led Awami Ittehad Party and Jamaat-e-Islami, who failed to make a meaningful impact in the polls.


The BJP’s emphatic victory in Haryana redeems its Lok Sabha misstep but also signals a broader political resurgence, giving the party renewed vigour to march into future contests like the crucial Maharashtra Assembly election.

 
 
 

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