Kolkata, 20 April (H.S.):

Political attacks over the recruitment controversy in West Bengal intensified once again after Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that the state government failed to provide jobs to deserving candidates and instead turned recruitment into a business.

In a message posted on X on Monday, Adhikari claimed that jobs meant for meritorious candidates were taken away, while false assurances were repeatedly given later to protect the government’s image. He further alleged that those who had scripted the narrative to help the government manage the crisis are now being rewarded with employment opportunities.

Targeting the Chief Minister, Adhikari said the people of the state know that the government’s priority has not been employment generation, but using jobs as a means of deal-making.

The state has already witnessed prolonged controversy over teacher recruitment and other appointment processes. Adhikari’s latest remarks are expected to further heat up the political atmosphere in poll-bound West Bengal. The Trinamool Congress has not yet responded to the allegations.

Notably, I-PAC, the political consultancy firm working as an advisor to the Trinamool Congress, recently granted 20 days’ leave to its employees in West Bengal. Following this, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while addressing a public rally in Tarakeswar on Sunday, said that if I-PAC does not retain its Bengal employees, she would help arrange jobs for them. Referring to that statement, Adhikari alleged that the very people who scripted the “sale of jobs” in Bengal are now being promised employment by the Chief Minister.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh