Patna: Thousands of candidates staged fresh protests in Patna on Tuesday, demanding the cancellation of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) 70th Preliminary Test (PT) exam. Demonstrators gathered in Gardanibagh and Bhikhana Pahadi, holding banners that read ‘CM sahab, chuppi todo’ (Chief Minister, break your silence), as they pressed for a re-exam.
The protests escalated when candidates attempted to march towards the Patna High Court. Police set up barricades at the Income Tax roundabout to prevent their advance, but protesters broke through, leading to tense confrontations. Some demonstrators clashed verbally with police officers, with one protester reportedly stating, “We will move only if we are shot.”
Security has been tightened across the city, with water cannons deployed and additional forces stationed outside the offices of the BJP and JD(U).
Candidates have been protesting in Gardanibagh for 49 days, alleging large-scale irregularities in the exam. On 13 December, the examination at Patna’s Bapu Examination Centre was cancelled due to reported malpractices, but protesters argue that the entire test—conducted across 912 centres—should be scrapped and re-administered.
Meanwhile, the Patna High Court is set to hear the case on 31 January. The court had previously directed BPSC to submit an affidavit by 30 January. A petition filed by Prashant Kishore’s party, Jan Suraj, demanding a re-exam, was heard on 16 January, but the court declined to stay the exam results.
