The agitation by MPSC aspirants against examination irregularities has drawn Pune’s rival political camps into the fray. Pune: The student agitation demanding an inquiry into alleged irregularities in Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examinations has increasingly acquired a political dimension. A campaign for accountability and end to examination-related malpractices has now snowballed into a political contest with competing narratives. The turning point came when the city’s BJP leaders took to the streets to counter the agitation, while NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar assumed a prominent role in leading the students. His intervention brought the protest greater political visibility, but also invited allegations that an issue rooted in students’ grievances was being turned into a political confrontation. The students, however, have appeared unwilling to accept the suggestion that the agitation had been appropriated by politicians. Many stood by Rohit Pawar, with some arguing that his presence had helped protect them from police harassment. Their response underscored a central tension in student movements: political support can amplify a cause, but it can also shift attention from the demands that brought protesters to the streets in the first place. Public Discontent The Pune agitation comes amid a series of protests across Maharashtra and elsewhere, reflecting a broader willingness among sections of the public to take grievances directly to the streets. These include tribal students’ demands for better hostel facilities, agitations by the Maratha community, a campaign in Mumbai seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and a movement against noise pollution in Pune. The political context has also been shaped by student-led mobilisations elsewhere, most notably the protest launched by Abhijit Dipke and his Cockroach Janata Party against the NEET exam leak that ultimately led to the resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. In Maharashtra, Dipke’s presence at the Pune protest added another layer to the unfolding political contest. Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, MP Praniti Shinde, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, Aaditya Thackeray, Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil and Sujat Ambedkar were among those who visited the protest site. The gathering of leaders from different political formations highlighted the breadth of support for the students’ cause, while demonstrating how quickly an agitation over an administrative issue becomes a platform for parties seeking to challenge the government on questions of employment and public accountability. Citywide Shutdown Rohit Pawar’s warning that he would call for a Pune bandh marked a significant escalation in the rhetoric surrounding the protest. The BJP and the Sangh Parivar reacted sharply, accusing him of attempting to create unrest in the city. Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure convened a meeting to criticise the proposed shutdown, bringing the dispute further into the political arena. MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s intervention has added a different perspective. He observed that no government could provide jobs to all candidates preparing for MPSC examinations. The BJP seized on the remark, presenting it as an implicit rebuttal of Rohit Pawar’s approach. Reports of apparent differences between the two leaders’ positions and observations about their body language following Thackeray’s speech has in turn fuelled speculation about a rift within the broader political support surrounding the protest. That said, the larger issue remains distinct from the political exchanges. The limited availability of government jobs is one challenge; ensuring fair, transparent and credible recruitment processes is another. Even if the state cannot provide employment to every aspirant, students can reasonably expect examinations to be conducted without irregularities and complaints to be addressed through credible mechanisms. The agitation has also encountered a legal challenge, with a petition filed in the High Court over roads being blocked by the protest. The court reprimanded the state government, observing that it was not taking the students’ demands seriously, and suggested that the protesters call off their agitation and concentrate on their studies. The students, however, are continuing with their protest, while insisting on concrete action from the government.
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