Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar on Monday, 5 October 2026, issued a firm 48-hour ultimatum to the Maharashtra government as the MPSC aspirants' protest in Pune entered its fifth consecutive day, demanding the immediate removal of Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar over alleged paper leaks and a chronic lack of transparency in recruitment. Pawar warned that if the state government failed to act, over 1,00,000 students would flood the streets of Pune, either enforcing a complete Pune Bandh or marching directly to the Mantralaya in Mumbai.

The Ultimatum and Escalation Threats

Speaking to reporters alongside the protesting candidates — a presence he has maintained since day one of the agitation — Rohit Pawar said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit the protest site on October 7 or 8, at which point a massive show of strength involving tens of thousands of aspirants is being planned. Abhijeet Dipke of Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has already appealed for a total city shutdown, urging MPSC students from across Vidarbha and other regions to converge on Pune.

'These students will either call for a Pune Bandh or march straight to the Mantralaya in Mumbai,' Pawar told reporters. 'We are giving the government a two-day ultimatum.'

Dipke went further, claiming that if 20 lakh MPSC students took to the streets for a single day, the MPSC Chairman's resignation would follow the very next day.

Core Demands: Bhimanwar's Resignation and Commission Overhaul

Rohit Pawar reiterated that systemic corruption within the exam board is the primary driver of the unrest. His central demand is the immediate resignation of MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar, alongside a complete audit and structural cleanup of the commission's recruitment procedures. The protest, now in its fifth day, has drawn attention to a string of paper leak allegations that critics argue have repeatedly derailed the careers of lakhs of aspirants preparing for civil service posts in Maharashtra.

BJP's Nitesh Rane Steps In — and Draws Sharp Response

The political temperature rose further after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and State Minister Nitesh Rane appealed to Rohit Pawar to refrain from holding students hostage for political leverage, while also extending what observers described as a conciliatory — and pointed — remark that Pawar might one day serve as a cabinet minister alongside him. 'Rohit Pawar is my friend. Tomorrow, he might even be a cabinet minister alongside me in the government,' Rane reportedly said, adding, 'He can continue to protest, but he shouldn't hold the students hostage.'

Pawar swiftly rejected the overture. 'Instead of offering me a cabinet berth, he should sit down with the students and resolve their issues,' Pawar retorted. He mocked Rane's comment as evidence that the ruling dispensation had 'realised that our government is coming to power,' challenging the minister to 'show courage and sit in the Opposition' in the interim. Pawar also called on Rane to demand Bhimanwar's resignation from his own government — failing which, Pawar questioned whether Rane was signalling his farewell to the BJP.

Opposition Consolidation and a Fractured Protest

The agitation has attracted a broad cross-section of political leaders. Congress leader Harshwardhan Sapkal, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, and NCP(SP) president Sharad Pawar have all taken notice of or met with the protesters. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray was scheduled to meet the aspirants later on Monday, while Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray is set to visit on Tuesday. Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil is also expected to join.

Notably, the protest movement has reportedly split into at least three factions over differing demands, raising questions about its cohesion. Critics — including observers within the protest itself — have flagged that the increasing presence of opposition politicians risks transforming what began as a student-led exam-integrity movement into a broader electoral battleground ahead of local body elections.

What Happens Next

The government's response — or lack thereof — within the next 48 hours will be the critical variable. If Rahul Gandhi's visit materialises on 7 or 8 October, the protest could draw national media attention and significantly raise the political stakes for the ruling Mahayuti coalition in Maharashtra. The MPSC paper leak issue has a documented history of recurring crises; this agitation marks the most sustained street pressure yet on the commission's leadership.