Kerala first, not Delhi: Rajeev Chandrasekhar slams CM Satheesan
Synopsis
BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar turned a protest visit into a pointed political attack — accusing CM Satheesan of flying to Delhi for Rahul Gandhi's NEET agitation while hundreds of LP School Teacher rank holders sit outside the Thiruvananthapuram Secretariat waiting for appointments the government has not made.
Key Takeaways
BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar visited LP School Teacher rank holders protesting outside the Thiruvananthapuram Secretariat on 24 July .
He accused Chief Minister V.D.
Satheesan of prioritising the Rahul Gandhi -led NEET protest in New Delhi on 20 July over local employment issues.
Rank holders are demanding appointments from an existing PSC rank list , citing unfilled vacancies in government schools.
Chandrasekhar pledged to personally meet General Education Minister N.
Shamsudheen and raise the matter in the Kerala Legislative Assembly .
The BJP is framing the protest as evidence of the LDF government's neglect of student and job aspirant concerns.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday, 24 July sharply criticised Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, accusing him of prioritising national political optics over the pressing employment concerns of students and job aspirants in Kerala. The attack came as Chandrasekhar visited LP School Teacher rank holders staging an indefinite demonstration outside the Thiruvananthapuram Secretariat.
The Political Charge
Chandrasekhar pointed to Satheesan's participation in the Rahul Gandhi-led Opposition protest in New Delhi on 20 July — held near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence over the NEET paper leak controversy — as evidence of misplaced priorities. 'The Chief Minister and his government have no time to intervene in the issues affecting students and job aspirants in Kerala. Instead, they travel to Delhi and become part of the political drama staged by Rahul Gandhi and the Congress. The priority should be to resolve the problems faced by these candidates,' Chandrasekhar told reporters after meeting the protesters.
What the Protesters Want
The LP School Teacher rank holders have been demanding appointments from an existing Public Service Commission (PSC) rank list. They contend that despite documented vacancies in government schools across the state, appointments have not been processed — leaving hundreds of qualified candidates in limbo. The indefinite protest outside the Secretariat has drawn growing attention from political quarters.
BJP's Assurances
Chandrasekhar assured the protesters of the BJP's backing and said he would personally meet General Education Minister N. Shamsudheen to press for an expedited resolution. He also committed to raising the issue on the floor of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. 'I have assured the candidates that their grievances will be taken up in the Assembly. We will pursue the matter until a fair solution is found,' he said.
Political Context
The BJP leader urged the state administration to open talks with the candidates without further delay and to fill the existing vacancies promptly. Chandrasekhar's visit is widely seen as a bid by the BJP to amplify the protest as a symbol of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government's alleged neglect of local employment issues while its leadership remains engaged in national political battles. This comes amid broader discontent over the NEET controversy, which has fuelled Opposition agitations across the country.
With the Assembly session approaching, the rank holders' protest is set to become a flashpoint between the ruling LDF and a united Opposition in Kerala.
Point of View
And attaching itself to a genuine grievance like stalled PSC appointments is a credible way to build local relevance. But the charge of 'Delhi over Kerala' cuts both ways: the NEET paper leak is a national crisis that directly affects Kerala students too, and Satheesan's participation in that protest is not without local justification. The more substantive question — why the LDF government has not cleared LP School Teacher appointments despite existing vacancies and a valid rank list — remains unanswered, and that is the accountability gap mainstream coverage is underplaying.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are LP School Teacher rank holders protesting in Thiruvananthapuram?
LP School Teacher rank holders are staging an indefinite protest outside the Thiruvananthapuram Secretariat demanding appointments from an existing PSC rank list. They allege that despite vacancies in government schools, the Kerala government has not processed their appointments, leaving hundreds of qualified candidates waiting.
What did Rajeev Chandrasekhar say about CM Satheesan?
Chandrasekhar accused CM Satheesan of neglecting local employment issues by travelling to New Delhi on 20 July to join Rahul Gandhi's Opposition protest over the NEET paper leak. He said the government's priority should be resolving the problems faced by students and job aspirants in Kerala.
What action did Chandrasekhar promise the protesters?
Chandrasekhar said he would personally meet General Education Minister N. Shamsudheen to push for an early resolution and committed to raising the rank holders' grievances in the Kerala Legislative Assembly.
What is the NEET paper leak controversy?
The NEET paper leak refers to allegations that question papers for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test were leaked ahead of the examination, triggering nationwide protests. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, organised demonstrations in New Delhi demanding accountability from the Centre.
How is the BJP using this protest politically?
The BJP is framing the LP School Teacher agitation as evidence of the LDF government's failure to address local employment concerns while its leadership remains focused on national political campaigns. Chandrasekhar's visit is aimed at building the party's profile on a grassroots employment issue in a state where it has limited legislative presence.
