The ongoing tussle between the Nitish Kumar government and the Raj Bhavan in Bihar has escalated further as the education department and the governor’s secretariat issued separate advertisements for the appointment of vice-chancellors (VC) in different universities. The terms and conditions are mostly the same in both advertisements, except for the last date of submission. This conflict comes after the freezing of bank accounts of the VC and pro-VC of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University. This ongoing dispute has sparked a political battle between the ruling alliance and the opposition BJP in Bihar.
The chancellor’s secretariat invited applications for the post of VCs in Patna University, Lalit Narayan Mithila University (Darbhanga), Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University (Muzaffarpur), Jai Prakash University (Chapra), BN Mandal University (Madhepura), and Aryabhatta Knowledge University (Patna). On the other hand, the education department invited applications for only five universities, leaving out the last two.
The education department refused to withdraw its previous order of freezing the bank accounts of the VC and pro-VC of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, as directed by the Raj Bhavan. The state education department had stopped the salaries of the officials for allegedly failing to inspect educational institutions and not attending a review meeting.
Robert L Chongthu, principal secretary to the governor, intervened and directed the concerned bank to defreeze the accounts with immediate effect. These developments have led to a political slugfest between the ruling alliance and the opposition BJP in Bihar.
The BJP spokesperson, Nikhil Anand, expressed support for the governor and criticized Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He accused Kumar of deliberately creating a showdown with the governor-cum-chancellor of universities in the state. Anand further criticized the Bihar government for failing to implement the new education policy and causing the collapse of higher education in Bihar.
On the other hand, the RJD spokesperson, Mrityunjay Tiwary, defended the actions taken by the state education department and advised the BJP not to politicize the appointment of VCs.
This ongoing dispute between the Nitish Kumar government and the Raj Bhavan highlights the power struggle between the two entities. The appointment of VCs is a crucial decision that can significantly impact the quality and functioning of universities. It is essential for both the government and the governor’s office to work together to ensure the smooth functioning of educational institutions and the overall development of the state’s higher education system.
In conclusion, the ongoing tussle between the Nitish Kumar government and the Raj Bhavan in Bihar over the appointment of vice-chancellors in universities has further escalated with separate advertisements issued by the education department and the governor’s secretariat. This conflict, along with the freezing of bank accounts of top officials, has created a political battle between the ruling alliance and the opposition BJP in Bihar. It is crucial for the parties involved to find a resolution and prioritize the development of higher education in the state.