The BJP government’s promise of removing political influence from West Bengal’s academic institutions is now facing renewed scrutiny, as fresh appointments to governing bodies of government-aided colleges indicate a strong presence of party leaders in key administrative roles.
Following the earlier announcement of governing body presidents for 247 colleges in August, a second list covering 171 government-aided colleges has now been released. In both phases, a significant majority of appointments are reported to have gone to senior BJP leaders, MLAs, MPs, and party office-bearers.
The latest list spans 171 government-aided colleges across West Bengal, covering major urban and rural regions alike. Institutions from Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24 Parganas, Bardhaman, Bankura, Birbhum, Murshidabad, and Darjeeling have all been included.
The wide geographical spread of appointments highlights a systematic restructuring of governing bodies across the state’s higher education landscape.
Key BJP leaders appointed to prominent Kolkata colleges
Several high-profile appointments in Kolkata’s well-known colleges have drawn particular attention. Tamoghna Ghosh, BJP’s North Kolkata District President, has been appointed governing body president of Surendranath College.
Priyanka Tibrewal has been named president of Surendranath College for Women, while industrialist and BJP-linked leader Sisir Bajoria has been entrusted with Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose College. Shashi Agnihotri Hera has been appointed to Basanti Devi College, and Rajkamal Pathak will head Heramba Chandra College. Former BJP MP Locket Chatterjee has also been appointed to lead the governing body of Sammilani Mahavidyalaya in South 24 Parganas.
District-level appointments expand party control
The trend continues beyond Kolkata, with several district-level BJP leaders also receiving key administrative roles. Jyotirmay Singh Mahato, BJP MP from Purulia and state general secretary, has been appointed governing body president of a college in Balarampur, Purulia.
Other senior party office-bearers have also been assigned similar responsibilities across various institutions, indicating a broad and structured presence of the party within higher education governance bodies.
Continuity of political presence across governments
During the previous Trinamool Congress government, similar allegations were made regarding the dominance of party leaders in governing bodies of government-aided colleges. Following the BJP’s rise to power in May, instructions were issued for Trinamool-era office-bearers to step down, with an official emphasis on depoliticising academic institutions.
However, the latest appointments suggest a continuation of political presence within college administration structures. With two consecutive lists showing strong representation of ruling party figures, critics argue that the shift in power has not necessarily translated into a depoliticised academic environment, but rather a change in political actors occupying similar roles.