The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) staged a peaceful but assertive protest outside the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) office in Cuttack on Monday, condemning the sudden and chaotic cancellation of the Special Odisha Teacher Eligibility Test (OTET), which was scheduled for Sunday, July 20. The cancellation followed allegations of a question paper leak, triggering political uproar and concerns over exam integrity.

Midnight Cancellation Leaves Thousands Stranded

The BSE announced an indefinite postponement of the Special OTET late Saturday night, citing a leaked question paper that had gone viral on social media. With no prior warning, more than 75,000 applicants across 193 exam centers in 30 districts learned about the cancellation only after reaching their venues on Sunday morning.

Candidates, many of whom had travelled long distances, were left frustrated and helpless as the BSE’s last-minute decision created logistical and emotional chaos.

BJD Launches Protest, Demands Accountability

Led by BJD MLA Byomkesh Ray and youth leader Devi Ranjan Tripathy, party workers, along with members of its youth and student wings, gathered outside the BSE premises on Bajrakabati Road in Cuttack. Protesters demanded the immediate resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, holding him accountable for repeated exam failures and alleged corruption in the recruitment process.

“This is not the first instance,” said Ray. “There have been leaks or mismanagement in at least 12 exams over the past year, including OPSC, SSC, RI, and Amin exams. The government has failed time and again to conduct fair and error-free examinations.”

Allegations of Bribery and Corruption Surface

Protesters also alleged that the leaked OTET question paper was being sold, hinting at a larger “jobs-for-bribes” scandal in the education recruitment system. “This is not just administrative failure — it’s corruption,” said one BJD activist. “If papers are being sold, it clearly points to systemic rot. The minister must resign.”

Social media platforms echoed these sentiments, with users sharing screenshots and posts that allegedly showed the leaked paper circulating before the exam.

Government Remains Silent Amid Escalating Crisis

By Monday afternoon, there was still no official response from either the BSE or Minister Gond regarding the leak or the postponement. The BJD protest signals a broader dissatisfaction with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state administration, particularly in the education sector, and comes at a politically sensitive time with student union elections approaching.

Candidates Left in Limbo as Future Uncertain

The sudden cancellation has thrown the careers of 75,403 aspiring primary teachers into uncertainty. With no new date announced for the Special OTET, many are unsure about the next steps. Critics argue that the situation is eroding public trust in the examination process and raising political temperatures ahead of key elections.

The recurring exam-related scandals have begun to shape a narrative of incompetence and systemic failure — one that could weigh heavily on the ruling government if not addressed promptly and transparently.

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