Patna: A large number of Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) candidates gathered at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, demanding the cancellation and re-conduct of the 70th preliminary examination. The protest took place despite the district administration denying permission, with candidates staging a sit-in in front of Gandhi’s statue.
Prashant Kishore (PK), founder of the Jansuraj Party, joined the protesters, voicing strong criticism of the Nitish Kumar government. PK claimed that the Chief Minister had fled to Delhi out of fear of the candidates’ agitation. He added that a long and determined fight was necessary to hold the government accountable. He accused the administration of ruining the education system in Bihar, alleging that students cannot clear exams despite studying in colleges.
The protest stems from alleged irregularities in the preliminary examination conducted on December 13 across 912 centers in Bihar. Candidates accused the Bapu Examination Campus in Patna of malpractice, leading to the cancellation of the exam at that center alone. However, the BPSC announced that the exam at the center would be re-conducted on January 4, a move that candidates deemed insufficient and discriminatory.
The district administration denied permission for the protest and issued a letter to the Jansuraj Party president, stating that no application was made to the Divisional Commissioner. The District Magistrate warned that if the protest continued without authorization, an FIR would be lodged, and action would follow. Despite the warnings, candidates remained firm in their demands.
Speaking at the protest, PK informed candidates that he had received communication indicating that the government was willing to meet at 4 p.m. He urged the protesters to continue their peaceful demonstration, emphasizing the need for sustained pressure on the administration to address their grievances.
CM Nitish Kumar, currently in Delhi, addressed the ongoing protests by BPSC candidates for the first time. Responding to the agitation at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, he stated, “We will talk after four o’clock,” signaling the possibility of discussions to resolve the issue.
At around 5 p.m., the protesting BPSC candidates, determined to escalate their demands, marched from Gandhi Maidan towards the Chief Minister’s residence. However, their progress was halted by the police, who had set up barricades to prevent them from proceeding further. The situation led to a standoff between the protesters and the police, adding to the intensity of the ongoing agitation.
