‘BJP Leaders Using Student’s Guise To Advance Political Interests’
Students gather to protest alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC examination, JSSC-CGL and other recruitment exams in Jharkhand (Image: PTI)
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday accused the BJP of attempting to exploit student protests over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations for political gains, while defending his government’s response to the agitation and announcing measures to overhaul the state’s recruitment system.
Speaking in the Jharkhand Assembly amid continued protests by the Opposition, Soren alleged that political actors were attempting to mislead students by operating under different identities. He claimed BJP leaders were now using the “student’s guise” to advance their political interests.
Soren also accused the Opposition of trying to obstruct investigations into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. He said his government would continue examining complaints and would not hesitate to cancel examinations if necessary.
The Chief Minister announced that the government was prepared to cancel the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Preliminary Examination as well as backlog recruitment examinations. It would also investigate examinations conducted through TDPL, the agency associated with recruitment tests, he said.
Soren further announced plans to seek technical expertise from premier institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), to reform the recruitment process. The objective, he said, was to make examinations more transparent, secure and reliable.
Questioning the role of TDPL, Soren said the company was based in Uttar Pradesh and had links with Bihar. He alleged that agencies of this nature had previously been involved in recruitment processes that ultimately harmed the interests of Jharkhand’s youth.
“The government will not back down from investigating examinations over which doubts and complaints have been raised,” Soren said, reiterating his administration’s commitment to addressing the concerns of protesting students.
His remarks came a day after police used batons to disperse students who had entered the Jharkhand Assembly premises while protesting alleged recruitment irregularities. The incident triggered criticism from student organisations and the Opposition.
Soren defended the police response, saying the administration had shown restraint during Monday’s demonstration. He pointed out that security restrictions were necessarily stringent around constitutional institutions such as legislative assemblies and Parliament.
Police officials have maintained that around 90% of protesters remained peaceful, while a smaller group allegedly resorted to stone-pelting and threw footwear at security personnel. Police said “mild force” was used after some protesters entered the Assembly premises.
However, the All India Students’ Association (AISA), affiliated with the CPI(ML), rejected the police characterisation of the incident. The organisation alleged that “anti-social elements brought by BJP were caught on camera trying to criminalise the J’khand students’ movement” and said it supported peaceful democratic protests.
The Jharkhand government has maintained that it has accepted most of the students’ demands. However, it has refused to cancel the 2026 Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination or order a CBI probe into alleged systemic corruption.
The government has argued that the CGL examination was monitored by the High Court, which did not identify large-scale irregularities, and that the Supreme Court subsequently cleared the appointment process. The state has agreed to cancel the 14th JPSC Preliminary Examination and the 2023-25 backlog recruitment examinations.
Soren also highlighted efforts to involve students in reforming the recruitment system. He said more than 8,500 suggestions had already been received through the government’s portal and urged young people to continue submitting recommendations.
The protests have increasingly taken on a political character, with the BJP and its student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, backing the agitation. The BJP also called a statewide bandh on Tuesday over the police action, with schools, colleges and public transport affected in several areas, although many shops remained open.
BJP legislators walked out of the Assembly after raising allegations of recruitment corruption and made a symbolic protest by throwing currency notes before leaving the House. BJP leader Babulal Marandi separately accused the state government of a cover-up and released a poster depicting Soren as Adolf Hitler.
Soren, meanwhile, maintained that the BJP was attempting to turn genuine student grievances into a political campaign. He argued that his government had instead chosen dialogue, acknowledged several legitimate concerns and initiated corrective measures.
