“Will Go to Mumbai If Needed”: Aaditya Thackeray Backs MPSC Students’ Protest in Pune

Sadashiv Peth, 6th October 2026: Thousands of Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants continued their protest in Pune for the sixth consecutive day on Tuesday, raising slogans including “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, “Vande Mataram”, “MPSC chairman must resign” and “There must be transparency in examinations”.

The protesting students have demanded the resignation of the MPSC chairman over alleged irregularities in the examination process, paper leaks, changes in the examination pattern and what they described as administrative lapses. They have said they will not withdraw from the protest until their key demands are addressed.

The agitation, which began on October 1, is being held at three major locations — near the S.M. Joshi Bridge close to Garware College, Ahilyadevi Shikshan Mandal on Shastri Road and Tilak Chowk. Students from different parts of Maharashtra have gathered in Pune and are continuing their protest despite the administration denying permission for the agitation.

As part of the protest, students also held a symbolic funeral procession for their “dreams” to highlight their anger over alleged irregularities in the examination system. The students said years of preparation and the financial sacrifices made by their families were being undermined by alleged paper leaks and problems in the recruitment process.

Political leaders extend support
Several political and social figures visited the protest sites and expressed support for the students.

Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh criticised the government and demanded immediate action against the MPSC chairman. He alleged that paper leaks were affecting several competitive examinations and said the Chief Minister should meet the protesting students and listen to their concerns.

Singh also warned that if the students did not receive justice, the agitation could spread across Maharashtra.

MLA Rohit Pawar said the symbolic funeral of students’ dreams reflected the anger among aspirants who spend several years preparing for competitive examinations despite financial difficulties.

“Students from poor and middle-class families work for years with the dream of becoming officers. Their parents spend heavily on education and coaching despite financial constraints. Alleged irregularities in the examination process are bringing these dreams to an end,” Pawar said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray said demanding the MPSC chairman’s resignation was justified but added that accountability should not end with one individual.

“The students’ voice cannot be suppressed. This fight is not merely about the resignation of the MPSC chairman; it is about transparent examinations, increased recruitment and the future of Maharashtra’s youth,” Thackeray said.

He also said students could take the agitation to Mumbai if their demands were not addressed.

“If required, we will go to Mumbai and sit outside the MPSC office. We will not back down until the chairman resigns,” Thackeray said, adding that his party would support students if they decided to protest in Mumbai.

Students oppose shift to fully objective examination pattern
Students protesting at Tilak Chowk have also strongly opposed any move to make the examination system entirely objective.

They said reforms could be introduced where necessary but maintained that descriptive examinations should continue to play an important role in the selection process.

“If our stand is wrong, punish us. But we are speaking for the truth. The descriptive examination system must continue to ensure the selection of meritorious candidates,” the protesting students said.

They questioned whether professional examinations, including those for doctors, could similarly be conducted entirely through objective questions.

Opposition leaders demand SIT probe
Former Maharashtra minister Jayant Patil said an SIT investigation should be conducted into the alleged irregularities and responsibility should be fixed.

“Students from different parts of the state take loans and come to Pune to study honestly for three or four years. But repeated paper leaks are eroding their faith in the system,” Patil said.

He said the government should take a decision within a few days or face questions in the state legislature.

Rohini Khadse, state women’s president of the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), said students had a constitutional right to question the government over alleged injustice.

Social activist and author Tushar Gandhi alleged that paper leaks were part of a larger systemic problem affecting the recruitment of young people and said the students’ agitation represented a broader struggle against an unjust system.

MLA Rohit Patil also appealed to the government to set aside “ego and stubbornness” and resolve the students’ demands.

Former judge B.G. Kolse-Patil alleged that students from socially disadvantaged communities were facing injustice in government recruitment and urged them to continue fighting for their rights through education.

Students threaten to take agitation to Mumbai
The protesters have maintained that they will continue the agitation until their major demands, including the resignation of the MPSC chairman, are addressed.

Mohammed Junaid Malik, one of the protesting students, said aspirants study for 12 to 16 hours a day but repeatedly face uncertainty because of alleged paper leaks.

“We have a constitutional right to raise our voice against injustice through a peaceful, Gandhian movement. The government should stop what students see as injustice and take immediate action,” Malik said.

The students have indicated that they could intensify the agitation and move it to Mumbai if the government and MPSC fail to respond to their demands.