Mumbai: Govt’s decision to send MPSC chairperson Vivek Bhimanwar on leave till completion of a judicial inquiry into alleged exam irregularities is a major victory for student-led protests in the state in recent times.So far, the state govt had tried to pacify agitators through govt resolutions, formation of inquiry committees and announcement of new policy measures.Political observers said what forced govt to blink this time was the protests’ national visibility—the participation of hundreds of students, the backing of NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, MNS chief Raj Thackeray and other state opposition netas, the repeated endorsement by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi through a flurry of social media posts, and the appearance of an array of activists like CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and folk singer Neha Singh Rathore at the agitation sites.Amid massive ongoing protests against alleged electoral fraud, the state govt was keen to defuse the MPSC protests before they snowballed further, said officials.They said CM Devendra Fadnavis also pulled off a balancing act by appointing FDA chief Tukaram Mundhe as the secretary of the inquiry panel before sending Bhimanwar on leave. “This was a masterstroke given the pressure being created by student protests. By getting Mundhe in the inquiry committee, Fadnavis scored on the perception front and made it clear that it would be a fair inquiry. So, when Bhimanwar went on leave instead of resigning, it looked like a middle ground had been reached,” said a senior official.A political observer said the MPSC protests became a rallying point for netas from all opposition parties. “They also helped Rohit establish himself as a seasoned opposition neta, one who is consistently batting for student issues. His jugalbandi with Rahul was also noticed and that compelled a lot of Congress netas to join and express support.”2nd MPSC chief to face action in 24 yearsThis is the second such instance of an MPSC chief facing govt action in 24 years. ACB arrested then chairperson Shashikant Karnik in 2002 over an alleged multi-crore recruitment fraud. He later resigned. A disproportionate assets case was filed in 2005 and a court discharged him in 2009. A former MPSC member said the commission had a largely unblemished record from then till the current controversy broke out.
