Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto launched the “Bharti Vyavastha Sudhar Yatra” on Monday from Nemra, paternal village of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) founder Shibu Soren, seeking reforms in the state’s recruitment exams.
The strategic launch underscores a calculated political move to directly confront the ruling coalition on its home turf.
Under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Abhiyarthi Reform Manch, the campaign operates with the theme “24 Districts, 24 Resolutions, One Voice,” aiming to build massive public momentum against state recruitment irregularities.
The launch in Nemra was marked by protest. Villagers took strong exception to the programme beginning in the village, claiming Hemant Soren was not only the chief minister for them but also the traditional chief of the village.
“We will not allow Mahto to enter the village, as Hemant Soren is not only CM of the state but also Manjhi Hadam (chief of the village). Starting any programme against him from his village will send the wrong message,” said one of the villagers, Vijay Kisko, to a section of the media.
However, backed by a significant police deployment, Mahto successfully initiated the yatra by following traditional Jharkhandi rituals and washing the feet of Shibu Soren’s statue.
{{/usCountry}}However, backed by a significant police deployment, Mahto successfully initiated the yatra by following traditional Jharkhandi rituals and washing the feet of Shibu Soren’s statue.
{{/usCountry}}Rajesh Prasad, a whistleblower accompanying Mahto in the yatra, informed Hindustan Times that starting from Nemra, the Yatra is scheduled to reach Hazaribagh via Ramgarh town tonight.
“The yatra started from the statue of Dishom Guru Shibu Soren in the village. Villagers had some confusion regarding the yatra and thus tried to obstruct it but when their doubts were cleared, they did not resist,” Prasad said.
Prasad said: “As many as 40 people are participating in the yatra on six vehicles, and wherever they go, they talk to media and students regarding the corruption in the conduct of recruitment exams and explain how the yatra will help bring reforms.”
The state-wide march is the second phase of a massive student-led agitation against systemic exam rigging. Earlier on August 10, thousands of competitive aspirants marched toward Jharkhand Assembly in Ranchi. Mahto himself spearheaded a 16-day hunger strike, before breaking his fast after the state government announced cancellation of 22 competitive exams.
The primary trigger for the agitation is a series of recurring exam scandals. Facing mounting street protests and evidence of widespread leak rings, Soren government cancelled 45 recruitment examinations linked to outsourced testing agencies, including the JSSC-CGL.
The student victory was short-lived. Within 24 hours after the notification cancelling the examinations, the Jharkhand HC stayed some of those decisions, which had deprived thousands of youths of their government jobs in one stroke. JLKM leaders sharply criticised the state’s legal team for failing to adequately present the state’s CID investigation findings, throwing tens of thousands of honest jobseekers back into legal limbo.
Speaking to local media before departing for Hazaribagh, Mahto emphasised that dialogue alone would no longer suffice.
“The JLKM is demanding a formal government guarantee ensuring zero paper leaks, absolute transparency, and the elimination of political patronage in state hiring. Aspirants are also calling for an independent CBI investigation into the institutional mafia handling state competitive exams,” he said.
Ramgarh SP Mukesh Kumar Lunayat could not be reached for comment on the matter. A police official, however, said the yatra was peaceful so far.