2 hrs ago
Bengal Appoints BJP Leaders to Govern 171 Colleges
The government in Bengal chose new leaders for 171 college governing bodies.
Many of the people chosen are connected to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The party had earlier criticized Trinamool Congress for putting political leaders in similar college roles.
Some college officials say this new decision looks similar to what the BJP had criticized.
A government official said college work had slowed because the governing bodies were waiting to be rebuilt.
The new appointees said they want to improve buildings, student admissions and college rankings.
They also said they would not interfere politically.
The higher education minister said the department carried out the party’s decision.
West Bengal’s higher education department appointed BJP leaders, teachers and former teachers associated with the party as presidents of governing bodies at 171 government-aided colleges.
The move follows the August 22 appointment of BJP legislators as presidents at 247 other aided colleges.
Critics said the appointments resemble the political influence the BJP previously accused Trinamool Congress of exercising over colleges.
Officials said college administration had been affected because governing bodies could not meet while awaiting reconstitution.
The appointees said they would improve infrastructure, admissions and institutional rankings while avoiding alleged political interference.
- Who
- The West Bengal higher education department appointed BJP leaders, teachers and former teachers associated with the party.
- What
- Presidents were appointed to the governing bodies of 171 government-aided colleges.
- Where
- In Bengal, including colleges in Calcutta.
- When
- The appointments were announced on Wednesday, following a separate August 22 appointment of BJP legislators at 247 colleges.
- Why
- The department said the appointments would allow governing bodies to resume administrative work after they had been unable to meet while awaiting reconstitution.
Critics of Political Appointments
Government and Appointees
Political influence in colleges
Critics of Political Appointments
A college principal said the appointments repeat the political control that the BJP previously criticized Trinamool Congress for exercising, arguing that independent academicians had been expected instead.
Government and Appointees
BJP appointees said they would not repeat the alleged mistakes of Trinamool leaders, while Priyanka Tibrewal emphasized that many appointees were educated people.
Purpose of the appointments
Critics of Political Appointments
Critics questioned whether party-linked appointments could allow political interference in college governance.
Government and Appointees
A higher education official said the appointments were needed to restore administrative activity because governing bodies had been unable to meet during the delay in reconstitution.
Expected college priorities
Critics of Political Appointments
The principal’s comments reflected concern that party involvement could affect academic administration and institutional independence.
Government and Appointees
The appointees said they would improve infrastructure, attract bright students and raise colleges’ NAAC rankings.
Key facts
- Appointments
- BJP leaders and party-associated teachers and former teachers were named presidents at 171 aided colleges.
- Earlier appointments
- BJP MLAs and MPs were appointed presidents at 247 aided colleges on August 22.
- Named appointee
- Anupam Bhattacharya was appointed president of Netaji Nagar Day College’s governing body.
- Another appointee
- Tamaghna Ghosh was appointed president of Surendranath Day College’s governing body.
- Administrative impact
- An official said college functions had been affected because governing bodies could not meet.
- Stated priorities
- Appointees cited infrastructure, student admissions and NAAC ranking improvements.
- Minister’s statement
- Higher education minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay said the department implemented the party’s decision.
Quotes
A principal of an aided college in Calcutta
Principal of an aided college in Calcutta commenting on the appointments.
“They used to accuse Trinamool of running ‘Dalotontro’ (partycracy) in the colleges. There was an expectation that BJP would not appoint the party’s MLAs or leaders as governing body presidents and would instead appoint independent academicians. But the BJP government did the same as Trinamool.”
telegraphindia.com
“The standard of education deteriorated during the tenure of Trinamool. We have to arrest any further decline and improve the infrastructure.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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