Pune: The protest by Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants entered its fifth day on Monday, with NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar giving the Maharashtra government a 48-hour ultimatum to address the students’ demands.
Pawar demanded immediate action against MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar, citing allegations of paper leaks and lack of transparency in the commission’s recruitment process.
He warned that failure to act could lead to a massive mobilisation of students in Pune, with more than 1 lakh aspirants potentially taking to the streets.
Pawar said the protesters could either call for a complete Pune Bandh or organise a march towards Mantralaya in Mumbai.
“As appealed by Abhijeet Dipke of CJP, the city of Pune could come to a standstill. Now, the MPSC students and their parents will decide. At that time, the residents of Pune should support these students. Rahul Gandhi is likely to visit on October 7 or 8. We estimate that around 100,000 students will be on the streets of Pune that day. These students will either call for a Pune Bandh or march straight to the Mantralaya in Mumbai,” Pawar said.
“We are giving the government a two-day ultimatum,” he added.
Rohit Pawar demands action against MPSC chairman
Pawar said the main reason behind the agitation was what he described as systemic corruption within the examination body.
He demanded the immediate resignation of MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar and called for a complete audit and overhaul of the commission’s recruitment procedures.
The protest has also triggered a political exchange between Pawar and BJP leader and Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane.
Rane appealed to Pawar not to use the students’ protest for political leverage and said the issue concerned the future of lakhs of students.
“This is not a political platform; it is a question of the students’ future. We sit in the Mantralaya for the welfare of students. Rohit Pawar is my friend. Tomorrow, he might even be a cabinet minister alongside me in the government. He is someone who praises good work. We will work together for the students. He can continue to protest, but he shouldn’t hold the students hostage,” Rane said.
Pawar rejects Rane’s political offer
Responding to Rane, Pawar said the minister should focus on resolving the students’ grievances instead of discussing a possible cabinet position.
“Instead of offering me a cabinet berth, he should sit down with the students and resolve their issues. If he foresees us in government, he should show courage and sit in the opposition now — we can work together when our government takes over,” he said.
Pawar also said the students’ demands should not be given a political colour.
He urged Rane to seek the resignation of MPSC Chairman Bhimanwar and take steps to address alleged corruption within the commission.
Political leaders join MPSC protest
The agitation has attracted leaders from several political parties. Congress leader Harshwardhan Sapkal and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut have met the protesters, while NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar has also taken note of the demonstration.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray is scheduled to meet the protesting MPSC aspirants, while Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray is expected to visit them on Tuesday. Manoj Jarange Patil is also scheduled to meet the protesters.
Meanwhile, the protest has reportedly split into three groups over differences concerning various demands, adding to the political and organisational complexity surrounding the agitation.
Call for Pune shutdown
During the protest, CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke also called for an intensified agitation and appealed to MPSC aspirants to bring Pune to a standstill.
Dipke urged students to mobilise their friends and fellow aspirants and said a large-scale protest could put pressure on the government to act on the students’ demands.
The MPSC agitation has now emerged as a major student protest in Pune, with demands for accountability within the commission being accompanied by increasing political involvement.