Devendra Nath Mahato has launched an indefinite hunger strike in Ranchi to protest irregularities in state recruitment examinations [1].
The protest highlights growing frustration among students and job seekers regarding transparency in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Subordinate Service Commission (JSSC) [1]. Allegations of misconduct in these exams have sparked widespread unrest, as candidates seek accountability from the state government [2].
Mahato is currently stationed at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi [2]. He has called for the complete cancellation of the affected JPSC and JSSC examinations and is demanding a formal investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) [2].
The protest leader has rejected offers of mediation from the state government [1]. Mahato said he will not accept intermediaries and is demanding direct talks with Chief Minister Hemant Soren [1]. He has further urged the chief minister to either speak publicly on the issue or resign from office [1].
This escalation follows a series of protests by students who allege that the recruitment processes have been compromised [3]. By choosing a hunger strike, Mahato aims to force a direct confrontation between the student body and the highest level of state leadership [3].
The demand for a CBI probe suggests a lack of trust in state-level investigative agencies to handle the inquiry impartially [2]. Mahato said he will not consume food until justice is served for the candidates [3].
“Devendra Nath Mahato has launched an indefinite hunger strike in Ranchi”
The hunger strike represents a critical escalation in the conflict between Jharkhand's youth and the state administration. By bypassing state mediators and targeting the Chief Minister directly, the movement is shifting from a policy dispute over exam transparency to a political challenge against the legitimacy of the current leadership's administration of public services.
