BJP Govt in West Bengal appoints party MLAs & MPs as presidents of college governing councils

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal has appointed party members, including legislators and Members of Parliament (MLAs and MPs), as presidents of governing councils in over 200 state-run colleges across the state. This move came after the BJP-led Suvendu Adhikari government took office in May, dissolving the governing bodies previously led by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLAs and MPs.

The West Bengal Higher Education Department issued a notification announcing that presidents for these governing bodies have been appointed for 247 state-run colleges. Notable BJP leaders appointed in this capacity include Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee, who became the president of the governing body for East Kolkata Girls College, and Kaushik Chowdhury, Minister of State for Fire Services, who took on the role of head for Raiganj B.Ed College.

Union Minister of State and Balurghat MP Sukanta Majumdar was made president of Balurghat College's governing body, while Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly, Rathindra Bose, was appointed as president of Coochbehar College's governing council. State Higher Education Minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay stated that these appointments are not unusual, as all those appointed have at least a bachelor's degree.

He emphasized that local MLAs and MPs are ex officio members of the college management committee and that the government will not allow politics to infiltrate the educational sector.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had pledged to ensure that educational institutions remain free from political influence upon assuming office. The BJP-led government's appointment of party leaders to these positions appears to be a departure from the promises made during the election campaign. Political observers have criticized this move, deeming it a breach of the BJP's earlier commitment to keep educational institutions free from political interference.