Protests seeking the resignation of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) chairman amid allegations of paper leaks intensified on the fifth day on Monday, drawing support from various quarters, while opposition leader Rahul Gandhi is likely to meet aspirants on October 7 or 8.
Demonstrations are being held at three locations for disparate demands, including an objective or descriptive format of MPSC examinations. However, the main demand is the resignation of MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar.
"We have learnt that Rahul Gandhi is likely to come by October 7 or October 8. Congress leaders from its youth wing are also agitating here, and they are in contact with Rahul Gandhi's team in Delhi," NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar told reporters.
He said a decision on the next course of action will be finalised after holding discussions with protesters, including either a road blockade or a march to Mumbai.
"If the state government does not take a decision in favour of the students at the cabinet meeting, we will have to take some different course of action," Pawar said after joining a protest on Sunday.
He invoked Gen Z lingo: "You are done, Bro!" to warn the government of consequences if it doesn't effectively engage with protesting aspirants.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said he would join protesters on Tuesday.
He questioned why the MPSC chairman continued in office despite thousands of students demanding his resignation over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange separately visited the main protest venue on Monday and extended their support to aspirants.
"Everyone and every political party is coming here to support you, but I have come here to take part in your anger. Do not let this anger be momentary," Thackeray told the protesting students.
He urged the aspirants not to get trapped in caste and religious politics, alleging that such issues were being used to divert their attention from core problems.
He said the aspirants' demand for recruitment to 70,000 government posts is unlikely to be fulfilled.
"I can tell you, it is not going to happen. Even if another government comes, this demand will not be fulfilled," he said, while asking the students to understand the situation and facts, but to continue their fight for jobs.
Thackeray demanded that Marathi girls and boys get jobs first.
"We all say that reservation should be there, but where are the jobs? Everything is getting privatised," he said, adding that government assets were being handed over to private players.
Amid allegations of paper leaks, the Maharashtra government had terminated the deputation of Mahendra Uttamrao Harpalkar as secretary of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC).
After a delegation of MPSC students met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the government on September 30 said a judicial inquiry will be conducted within three months into the functioning of the former and incumbent MPSC chairpersons and members, as sought by the aspirants, under Article 317 of the Constitution.
Addressing the agitating aspirants, Jarange said the government is "thick-skinned", and the students should not retreat from their stand until their demands are addressed.
"It is a do-or-die battle. It is a matter of your life and career. Hold your ground firmly. We are with you.
"Your parents, who are farmers, have sent you here so that you can become officers. The crops they are expecting have withered due to lack of rain and drought. The situation is grim. In such a situation, you need to revolt," Jarange added.