Opposition questions Bengal govt over BJP lawmakers heading college governing bodies

PTI, August 23, 2026, Kolkata: The opposition TMC in West Bengal on Sunday criticised the new government in the state after BJP lawmakers were appointed as presidents of governing bodies of over 200 colleges, questioning Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's assertion that educational institutions would be freed from political interference.

The Higher Education Department issued a notification on Friday appointing presidents to the governing bodies of 247 colleges across the state.

According to the notification, nearly 99 per cent of these colleges have local BJP MLAs or MPs as presidents of their governing bodies. Several state ministers have also been appointed to head governing bodies of colleges. Health Minister Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay has been appointed president of the governing body of East Calcutta Girls' College, while Minister of State for Fire Services Kaushik Choudhury will head the governing body of Raiganj B.Ed College, according to the notification.

Adhikari had earlier said political nominations in schools, colleges and universities would be scrapped as part of the government's efforts to ensure greater autonomy for educational institutions, in contrast to the previous TMC regime.

Higher Education Minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay said the first list has 247 colleges where graduate MLAs and MPs elected on BJP symbols have been appointed as presidents of governing bodies.

"The list of another 200 colleges is yet to be published. Academicians and social workers will be appointed to head the governing bodies of those institutions," he said.

Leader of Opposition Ritbrata Bandyopadhyay, who is a part of the rival faction of the TMC, said there was a mismatch between the government's words and actions.

Beleghata MLA Kunal Ghosh, who is a part of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC faction, alleged that the BJP was following a "dual policy", and the chief minister's earlier announcement was merely for "public consumption".

Chattopadhyay, however, defended the appointments, saying the department had screened the candidates before making the selections. He said the decision should not be construed as allowing educational institutions to become political arenas.

"I had said that we would not allow colleges to become political grounds. This does not mean that local elected representatives will have no role in the administration of colleges," the minister said.