Pune MPSC aspirants continue sit-in demanding commission chairman's resignation; BJP MLAs question Rohit Pawar

Students preparing for Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examinations are continuing their agitation in Pune. They are demanding the resignation of commission chairman Vivek Bhimanwar and have said clearly that they will not call off the protest until he steps down.

The students have been sitting on Garware bridge, near S. M. Joshi Sabhagruha in Pune, since last night. They say the agitation is over questions surrounding MPSC examinations and the repeated losses suffered by students. Thousands of students preparing for competitive examinations in Pune have taken to the streets.

The same day, a protest is also under way at Shivaji Park ground in Mumbai demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

MLAs Rohit Pawar and Vishwajeet Kadam visited the Pune protest and extended their support to the students. Pawar questioned why no action is taken against the commission chairman, asking that if such action can be taken in other states, why it is not taken in Maharashtra. The protesters claim that action cannot be properly taken against the chairman while he holds the post.

The agitation is also raising the question of who is responsible if students are repeatedly suffering losses and are forced to leave their studies and take to the streets.

Political allegations and counter-allegations have begun over Pawar's role in the protest. BJP MLA Rajendra Raut criticised Pawar and questioned his role in the agitation. He alleged that an attempt is being made to gain publicity through the protest.

BJP MLA Vikram Pachpute also criticised Pawar's involvement. He said Pawar is agitating in Pune over the MPSC paper leak issue. He asked what need there is for an agitation when the government is already acting on the students' demands.

On September 30, MPSC student representatives met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The students' questions and various demands were discussed. Afterwards, the government issued an order transferring MPSC secretary Mahendra Harpalkar.

The students' main demand remains the chairman's resignation, so the agitation continues. It remains to be seen whether the students are satisfied with the government's action and whether the protest is withdrawn. For now, the Pune protest, the demand for the chairman's resignation and the political exchanges it has set off are being watched closely by those involved in competitive examinations across the state.