POLITICS

Police Deploy Water Cannons as BJYM March Toward Kerala Secretariat Over LPST Rank List Dispute

Police in Thiruvananthapuram used water cannons to disperse a Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) march aimed at highlighting the grievances of Lower Primary School Teacher (LPST) rank‑list candidates. The demonstration, which sought government action on delayed appointments, was halted as tensions rose near the Kerala Secretariat.

By Open Vaartha Desk · 2026-08-08

What happened

TL;DR

Police used water cannons to break up a BJYM march demanding action on delayed LPST teacher appointments near the Kerala Secretariat.

Key points

Police deployed water cannons to disperse a BJYM march in Thiruvananthapuram
The protest supported LPST rank‑list candidates seeking timely teaching appointments
BJYM accused the Kerala government of ignoring rank‑list candidates
Demonstrators continued chanting slogans after the water‑cannon intervention
The incident highlights broader controversy over Kerala’s teacher recruitment process

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – On the day of the protest, police deployed water cannons to break up a march organized by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM). The demonstrators were moving toward the Kerala Secretariat to voice support for candidates listed in the Lower Primary School Teacher (LPST) rank list, who have been pressing the state government for timely appointments.The protest was framed as a platform for LPST rank holders to demand that the government act on the appointments promised in the rank list. BJYM members alleged that despite being included in the list, many eligible candidates were being denied or delayed in receiving teaching posts. The youth wing criticised the state administration for what it described as a lack of transparency and responsiveness in the recruitment process.As the march approached the Secretariat, police intervened to prevent the protesters from advancing further. After a brief escalation of tensions, water cannons were fired to disperse the crowd. The forceful response briefly halted the procession, though participants continued to chant slogans calling for “justice for the rank holders” and urging the government to honor the list.The incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened political activity surrounding Kerala’s teacher recruitment system. The LPST rank‑list controversy has sparked broader debate over the state’s appointment procedures, the timing of vacancies, and the criteria used to fill them. While the BJYM’s involvement adds a partisan dimension, the core issue remains the perceived delay in converting rank‑list positions into actual teaching appointments.Authorities have not released a detailed statement on the decision to use water cannons, but the police action underscores the sensitivity of the recruitment dispute and the government’s intent to maintain order around the Secretariat. The protest, though disrupted, succeeded in drawing renewed public attention to the ongoing debate over recruitment transparency and the rights of rank‑list candidates in Kerala’s education sector.