Thiruvananthapuram, August 3: Protests by Lower Primary (LP) school teacher rank holders in Kerala have escalated, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launching a strong attack against the state government. The indefinite protest is taking place outside the Secretariat, coinciding with increasing support from prominent figures in the Malayalam film and television industry. BJP leaders have been visiting daily to express their solidarity with the demonstrators.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the state president of the BJP and a legislator, highlighted the case of Gopika, who secured the ninth rank in the LP school teacher examination. In a social media post, he stated that despite her top merit ranking, she was forced to protest outside the Secretariat instead of teaching in a classroom.
Chandrasekhar described Gopika’s situation as emblematic of the struggles faced by hundreds of qualified youth in Kerala. He accused the government of failing to provide jobs to deserving candidates while allowing politically connected individuals to be hired through ‘backdoor’ methods.
He criticized both the opposition-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) for not safeguarding merit and employment opportunities for the state’s youth. Using the slogan “Randala, Onnanu (not two, but one),” he asserted that both coalitions are similar in their refusal to hire qualified candidates.
Chandrasekhar emphasized that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) stands firmly with Gopika and all rank holders protesting for appointments. The movement gained momentum as several personalities from the Malayalam film and television industry joined the protests, urging the government to address the concerns of rank holders without further delay.
The protesters are demanding immediate appointments based on the LP school teacher rank list released by the Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) on May 31, 2025. They have also called for transparent information regarding vacant positions, alleging that the lack of complete data is causing delays in appointments despite valid rank lists.
With increasing political support and public backing, this protest has become another challenge for the government. It faces ongoing scrutiny regarding the delays in recruitment and the future of hundreds of aspiring teachers awaiting appointments.
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