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BJP government appoints 247 political heads for Bengal colleges
The BJP government in West Bengal has appointed its own ministers, MPs and MLAs as presidents of governing bodies of 247 state-aided colleges, three months after promising to scrap political appointments in…
The BJP government in West Bengal has appointed its own ministers, MPs and MLAs as presidents of governing bodies of 247 state-aided colleges, three months after promising to scrap political appointments in education. The move has drawn accusations of breaking a pledge to keep academic institutions free from political interference.
The higher education department defended the appointments, saying elected representatives were chosen for colleges facing administrative problems or financial irregularities. It said appointees must have at least a bachelor's degree, and educationists and social workers would be considered in the next phase.
Opposition parties, including the SFI, Congress and AIDSO, condemned the appointments as a return to political control. The ABVP said it would wait a few months to see if academic standards are maintained before taking a stance.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The promise to depoliticise education was a key BJP campaign plank in West Bengal, where Trinamool had long controlled college governing bodies. By putting its own politicians in charge of 247 colleges, the government has effectively replicated the system it criticised. Student union elections remain suspended, and the governing body posts give the ruling party direct leverage over appointments, fees and academic decisions. The next test will be whether the government holds the promised elections for these bodies or extends the current appointments indefinitely.
Source: nationalheraldindia.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
