70,000 govt posts stay empty, while students lose another year: Ajay Maken
Congress leader Ajay Maken criticizes the Maharashtra government as 70,000 posts remain vacant and students lose years due to MPSC exam delays.
Senior Congress leader Ajay Maken has launched a scathing attack on the Maharashtra government, accusing it of failing to fulfill recruitment promises and causing massive setbacks to the careers of thousands of aspirants. Maken highlighted a staggering reality where more than 70,000 government positions remain unfilled, even as students face repeated delays in the examination processes conducted by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC).
Students Losing Crucial Years to Delays
Speaking on the ongoing unrest, Maken pointed out that the delay in examinations is effectively robbing graduates of their most productive years. He specifically cited the administrative inertia within the MPSC, noting that the results for the State Services Main Examination 2025 are still pending. Furthermore, the 2026 examination, which was scheduled to commence on October 3, was postponed via a press note on September 28, with no new dates provided to the candidates.
"Every postponed exam is a year a graduate does not get back," Maken stated, emphasizing the psychological and professional toll these delays take on the youth.
Rahul Gandhi Backs Pune Protests
The Congress leader also shared that Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has extended his full support to the students currently staging protests in Pune. According to Maken, Gandhi has made it clear that the students require "action, not assurances" regarding the filling of the 70,000 vacant posts.
The protest has been registered on Satyagraha, a digital platform launched by Gandhi to allow citizens to file grievances directly to him. Maken noted that the coordination committee of the protesting students has utilized this platform to ensure their voices reach the highest levels of the opposition leadership.
Allegations of a "Hijacked" Institution
The controversy deepens with allegations regarding the integrity of the examination body. Rahul Gandhi, in a recent post on X, urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to reform the MPSC, suggesting that the institution responsible for shaping the future of students has been "hijacked."
During the 'Chhatron ki Goonj' event in Pune, students raised a litany of grievances, including:
- Frequent paper leaks
- Stalled recruitment processes
- Exorbitant costs of education
- Dilapidated hostel conditions and toxic food
- Fraud within the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system
Demands for Transparency and Permanent Solutions
Gandhi expressed frustration that despite raising these issues, no significant action had been taken, leading to the current Satyagraha in Pune. He has instructed the Youth Congress and NSUI to fight alongside the students until their demands are met.
The Congress leadership has vowed to raise these issues with the Maharashtra government once again, demanding a permanent solution to the recruitment crisis and a complete overhaul of the examination process to ensure transparency and fairness for all aspirants.