Kerala PSC scam: BJP delegation meets Governor, demands justice for rank holders
Synopsis
A BJP delegation met Kerala Governor Om Prakash Mathur to demand action on the PSC recruitment scam, as the SIT arrests a retired employee and questions the PSC Chairman. The Governor reportedly backed his predecessor's tough stand — signalling the constitutional pressure on the Kerala government is far from over.
Key Takeaways
BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar led a delegation to meet Governor Om Prakash Mathur on 29 October 2026 over the Kerala PSC scam .
Governor Mathur reportedly said he shares former Governor Rajendra Arlekar's stand and will adopt a position that provides relief to youth.
Former Governor Arlekar had written to President Droupadi Murmu recommending removal of PSC Chairman Dr M.R.
Baiju and commission members under Article 317 .
The SIT of the Crime Branch arrested a retired PSC employee on Wednesday ; a serving employee is reportedly on the run.
Gopakumar alleged the Kerala government remained indifferent for nearly 150 days to protestors who shaved their heads in demonstration.
BJP targeted Rahul Gandhi , alleging silence on Kerala's PSC injustice despite his nationwide 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' campaign.
A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation on Thursday, 29 October 2026, met Kerala Governor Om Prakash Mathur in Thiruvananthapuram to brief him on the alleged irregularities in the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC), urging him to take strong follow-up action to ensure justice for affected youth through the legal system.
What the BJP Delegation Sought
BJP Kerala state president and MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar told reporters after the meeting that the delegation had apprised the Governor of the gravity of the PSC recruitment scam. He said the party demanded urgent intervention to address the grievances of PSC rank holders and protect their futures.
The Governor, according to Chandrasekhar, said he shared the position taken by former Governor Rajendra Arlekar on the PSC issue and would adopt a stand that provides relief to young people seeking employment.
Background: The PSC Scam and Arlekar's Letter
The controversy traces back to a scam in the rank list of the Kerala State Planning Board, which triggered calls for accountability. Before moving out as Governor, Arlekar had written to President Droupadi Murmu recommending the removal of PSC Chairman Dr M.R. Baiju and the commission members. That letter invoked Article 317 of the Constitution — a rarely used provision — signalling the seriousness with which the matter was being treated at the constitutional level.
The BJP's move comes as PSC Chairman Dr M.R. Baiju and three other PSC members were questioned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch probing the Planning Board irregularities. On Wednesday, the SIT arrested a retired PSC employee; a serving employee has also been charged and is reportedly on the run.
BJP Targets Congress Over Student Protests
Chandrasekhar launched a pointed attack on Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, alleging that while Gandhi has been travelling across the country speaking about 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' (the voice of students), he has remained silent on the PSC irregularities in Kerala and the injustice faced by students there.
'The Congress leadership, which speaks up for students' rights, should adopt the same position on the problems faced by young people in Kerala,' Chandrasekhar said. He urged the public to recognise what he described as contradictions in the Congress's political stand.
Government Under Fire Over 150-Day Inaction Claim
BJP legislature party leader B.B. Gopakumar, MLA, alleged that the government led by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan had failed to respond to the demands of PSC rank holders who had shaved their heads as part of a protest to draw attention to their situation. He claimed the government remained indifferent for nearly 150 days, acting only after the Governor recommended action to the President under Article 317.
Chandrasekhar was accompanied by BJP national executive member and MLA V. Muraleedharan, Yuva Morcha in-charge advocate P. Sudheer, and Yuva Morcha state vice-president Shijil. The BJP has said it will maintain its stand on the issue until justice is delivered to the affected youth.
Point of View
Which keeps Article 317 on the table and puts the Satheesan government in an awkward position. The 150-day inaction claim, if it holds scrutiny, is a damaging narrative for a state government. The Congress silence on PSC while campaigning on student issues nationally is a contradiction the BJP will mine aggressively in the run-up to the next electoral cycle.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kerala PSC recruitment scam?
The Kerala PSC scam refers to alleged irregularities in the rank list of the Kerala State Planning Board, which raised questions about the integrity of the Public Service Commission's recruitment process. The matter led former Governor Rajendra Arlekar to write to President Droupadi Murmu recommending the removal of PSC Chairman Dr M.R. Baiju and other commission members under Article 317 of the Constitution.
Why did the BJP meet the Kerala Governor on 29 October?
The BJP delegation, led by state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, met Governor Om Prakash Mathur to brief him on the seriousness of the PSC irregularities and urge him to take strong follow-up action. The party demanded justice for youth affected by the scam and pressed the Governor to ensure intervention through the legal system.
What has the SIT done so far in the PSC probe?
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kerala Crime Branch questioned PSC Chairman Dr M.R. Baiju and three other PSC members. On Wednesday, the SIT arrested a retired PSC employee; a serving employee has been charged and is reportedly on the run.
What is Article 317 and why is it relevant here?
Article 317 of the Indian Constitution allows the President to remove or suspend a member of a Public Service Commission on grounds of misbehaviour, following a Supreme Court inquiry. Former Governor Arlekar's letter to President Murmu invoking this provision was a significant constitutional escalation in the Kerala PSC case.
How has the Kerala government responded to the PSC protests?
According to BJP legislature party leader B.B. Gopakumar, the government led by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan remained indifferent to PSC rank holders' protests — including demonstrators who shaved their heads — for nearly 150 days, and acted only after the Governor recommended action to the President. The government's formal response to these allegations has not been detailed in available reports.
