Mon Dec 30 05:11:25 UTC 2024: ## RJD Leader Accuses Kishor’s Party of Being Bihar Government’s “B Team” Amidst BPSC Protest Crackdown

**Patna, Bihar –** Tensions escalated in Patna on Sunday as police used water cannons to disperse hundreds of BPSC (Bihar Public Service Commission) aspirants protesting the results of the 70th preliminary exam. The ensuing clashes have sparked a political firestorm, with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav accusing Jan Suraaj Party, led by Prashant Kishor, of acting as a “B team” for the ruling Nitish Kumar alliance.

Yadav, the Leader of the Opposition, claimed in a video message that Kishor’s party misled protesters into marching towards Gandhi Maidan, despite warnings from authorities. He alleged that those who initially encouraged the protest abandoned the students when police intervened with water cannons. While Kishor wasn’t present during the crackdown, he had addressed the protesters earlier that day, leading to an FIR being filed against him and Jan Suraaj Party president Manoj Bharti.

The protest, initially a nearly two-week-long sit-in, gained momentum after Kishor’s involvement. Aspirants demanded the cancellation of the December 13th exam, citing alleged irregularities and question paper leaks at the Bapu Pariksha Parisar examination center. Over 10,000 candidates at this center will be subject to re-examination, a decision the BPSC maintains was made in response to a conspiracy to disrupt the exams, not evidence of widespread malpractice.

Despite the police action, Yadav pledged his party’s political support for the protesters’ demands, urging them to maintain their pressure on the government. He highlighted the BPSC’s close ties to the chief minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, thereby controlling the police.

The incident underscores the deep political divisions in Bihar, with the opposition seizing on the controversy surrounding the BPSC exam to criticize the ruling coalition. The investigation into the alleged question paper leaks and the ongoing political fallout promise to remain significant news in the coming days.

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