Bandh, Assembly chaos, silent march: Jharkhand student stir deepens on Day 18

Published 11 August 2026 · local

What began as another day of political confrontation over Jharkhand’s recruitment exam protests escalated sharply on Tuesday when state minister Irfan Ansari alleged that a

What began as another day of political confrontation over Jharkhand’s recruitment exam protests escalated sharply on Tuesday when state minister Irfan Ansari alleged that a sit-in by BJP MLAs near Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence was not merely a protest but an “attempt to kill” the Chief Minister. Ansari claimed Soren was inside the residence with his wife and children at the time and demanded strict action over the episode. Read Full Story The allegation capped a turbulent day in Jharkhand politics, as the agitation over alleged irregularities in JPSC-JSSC recruitment examinations played out simultaneously on the streets and inside the Assembly. ASSEMBLY ADJOURNED A DAY EARLY The Jharkhand Assembly was adjourned sine die on Tuesday, a day ahead of schedule, after repeated disruptions over police action against protesting job aspirants. BJP MLAs entered the Well of the House and demanded answers from the government over the use of batons, tear gas and water cannons against students who had marched towards the Assembly a day earlier. Amid the uproar, Chief Minister Hemant Soren defended his government’s handling of the agitation and said a CID probe into alleged recruitment irregularities was underway. Soren said the government had accepted most of the reform proposals raised by students and was willing to make further changes to the recruitment system. He also announced that examinations conducted by a Lucknow-based company would be investigated and said IIT experts would be consulted on improving the examination process.

The confrontation intensified after BJP legislators displayed currency notes inside the House in an attempt to link the recruitment irregularities to an alleged “cash-for-jobs” scam. Soren hit back at the Opposition, accusing it of politicising the issue. After his address, Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato adjourned the House sine die, saying he was doing so with a “heavy heart and pain”. BJP BANDH OVER POLICE ACTION Outside the Assembly, the BJP observed a statewide bandh over Monday’s police action against the protesters. Normal life was affected in parts of Ranchi and other cities, with several schools and business establishments remaining closed and vehicular movement reduced. BJP workers blocked roads and burnt tyres at some locations as the party accused the JMM-Congress government of using force instead of addressing the students’ grievances. State BJP president Aditya Sahu demanded that JMM and Congress legislators resign on moral grounds and challenged Rahul Gandhi to come to Jharkhand, stage a sit-in outside Soren’s residence and press for a CBI probe into the alleged recruitment irregularities. RAHUL GANDHI BECOMES POLITICAL FLASHPOINT The agitation has also triggered a fresh political confrontation over Rahul Gandhi’s response to the protests. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju pointed out that Congress and JMM are governing partners in Jharkhand and said Gandhi should answer questions over the police action. Ansari, however, defended the Congress leader, saying Gandhi had instructed the state leadership to engage peacefully with the protesting students.