Pune, 9th October 2026: The agitation by Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants entered its ninth day on Friday, with no breakthrough in efforts to resolve the dispute. Despite continued protests and expectations of government intervention, no direct talks have taken place between the state government and the protesters, leaving the deadlock unresolved.
The agitation began on October 1 near S M Joshi Bridge and along Lal Bahadur Shastri Road. Students are demanding the resignation of MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar, alleging irregularities in competitive examinations and questioning the transparency of the commission’s functioning. They have also raised concerns over alleged question paper leaks and demanded reforms to ensure a fair recruitment process.
The latest protest in Pune followed a meeting between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and a delegation of student organisations. The meeting, which lasted around three hours, focused on reforms in MPSC's functioning and other demands raised by aspirants. Following the meeting, the delegation announced the suspension of its agitation in Mumbai.
However, the situation took a different turn in Pune, where a fresh protest began near S M Joshi Bridge in Navi Peth under the leadership of MLA Rohit Pawar. The agitation subsequently received support from opposition leaders across the country, including Rahul Gandhi.
Despite the growing political support, the state government has not held direct discussions with the protesters over the past eight days. Students have repeatedly maintained that they will not withdraw the agitation unless Bhimanwar resigns.
Police officials also attempted to facilitate discussions to resolve the issue, but their efforts did not produce any result. Protesters were reportedly informed that two state ministers would visit the site on Thursday to hold talks. However, no government representative arrived during the day.
With the agitation continuing, there is growing concern among workers and office-bearers associated with both sides about how long the impasse will last. However, neither the government nor the protesters has announced a concrete plan for further negotiations.
The lack of communication has raised questions about who will take the initiative to restart dialogue and find a solution. Students and Pune residents are now waiting to see whether the two sides will agree to negotiations.
Meanwhile, two students participating in the protest, Hrishikesh Gangarde and Gajanan Shelke, fell ill on Wednesday night and were admitted to Sassoon General Hospital. Their condition is now reported to be stable.
