BJP leaders helming Bengal colleges, can party advisory prevent political interference?
The ruling BJP in West Bengal is asking its newly appointed college governing body presidents to follow a strict rulebook on administration, finances and appointments. The advisory comes after the party faced criticism for filling college governing body posts across the state with its leaders.
The guidelines were discussed at a BJP organisational meeting on September 22, attended by the party’s state president Samik Bhattacharya and Bengal minder Sunil Bansal. District presidents and MLAs were present. While preparations for the forthcoming municipal elections figured in the conversations, a substantial part of the meeting was devoted to the functioning of college governing bodies.
The message from the BJP leadership was clear: governing body presidents would be held responsible for administrative and financial discipline and would not be allowed to treat their positions as political fiefdoms.
The instructions come against the backdrop of allegations of financial irregularities during the previous Trinamool Congress government, including discrepancies in accounts and delays in submitting audit reports. The BJP leadership has asked its appointees to ensure against such lapses.
The presidents have been told to obtain and familiarise themselves with the ordinances of the respective universities and all applicable government rules. Governing body meetings must be held regularly, with agendas circulated in advance. Minutes must be properly recorded, signed and preserved while presidents are expected to monitor whether decisions taken by the governing body are implemented.Financial management forms a major part of the guidelines. Presidents have been asked to ensure preparation of annual budgets, timely audits and regular deposits of employees' provident fund contributions. Permanent teachers cannot be appointed without a recommendation from the College Service Commission. Matters relating to employees' annual confidential reports (ACRs), promotions, leave, pension and gratuity are expected to be dealt with on time.
The brief goes beyond paperwork. Presidents have been asked to inspect hostels and messes regularly, ensure student safety and encourage activities such as sports and NCC (National Cadet Corps).
There is an equally elaborate list of things they have been told not to do. Presidents have been prohibited from signing blank cheques for personal benefit or using college funds arbitrarily. No meeting can be held without a quorum and no major decision can be taken unilaterally. Illegal appointments, delays in audits or provident fund payments and violations of government orders have been specifically flagged. Presidents have also been cautioned against interfering with academic and teaching matters or discriminating against students or employees. Major decisions without government approval have been ruled out.
The emphasis on sticking to norms comes at an awkward moment for the BJP government. Since coming to power in May, the Suvendu Adhikari government has replaced governing bodies headed by Trinamool Congress MLAs and MPs. In August, it appointed BJP MLAs and MPs as presidents of governing bodies in 247 government-aided colleges. A second list, covering another 171 colleges, was issued in September and again included a large number of BJP functionaries and party-linked figures.
Among the latest appointments are BJP North Kolkata district president Tamoghna Ghosh at Surendranath College, former BJP MP Locket Chatterjee at Sammilani Mahavidyalaya, Sisir Bajoria at Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose College and Priyanka Tibrewal, a BJP candidate in the 2026 assembly election, at Surendranath College for Women.
That has prompted criticism from academics and Opposition parties, particularly because the BJP, while in Opposition, had accused the Trinamool government of allowing political leaders to influence college governing bodies.
The criticism has also come from within the education sector. Tarun Kanti Naskar of the All India Save Education Committee said the appointments meant the government had “failed to protect the autonomy of educational institutions”.
Higher education minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay, meanwhile, has described the appointments as a temporary arrangement. Asked about the political nature of the nominations, he said: “Whatever decisions have been made by the party, the higher education department has implemented them.”
The BJP's new instructions, therefore, put its college governing body presidents under test: they have been politically selected but are now being asked to demonstrate that they can administer colleges without allowing that political identity to spill onto day-to-day governance.
