NEW DELHI — The political temperature in Jharkhand rose sharply on Thursday as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leveled explosive allegations against the state’s ruling coalition. At a press conference in the capital, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari claimed the Congress-Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) government handed examination-related work to a blacklisted company—completely bypassing the tender process.

Key facts:

  • Allegation made by BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on September 3, 2026
  • Company named: TDPL, alleged to be blacklisted
  • Over a dozen recruitment exams since 2014 under scrutiny

A Pattern of Irregularity

Bhandari didn’t hold back. He pointed directly to ongoing student protests in Jharkhand, linking public discontent to the actions of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. “The unfortunate thing is,” Bhandari stated, his tone measured but firm, “as the investigation is progressing, it is emerging that the company, TDPL, which was blacklisted, had been given the entire responsibility by the Jharkhand government for conducting the examinations.”

He cited a news report to bolster his claim, emphasizing that no formal tender was ever issued. This isn’t about one isolated exam—over a dozen major recruitment tests conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission since 2014 are now under the scanner.

Layers of Suspicion

The plot, according to the BJP, thickens further. Bhandari alleged that the state government awarded the tender to a “tainted” company, which then outsourced the work to a second, “dubious” firm. Most startling of all? He claimed this outsourcing “took place in cash.”

“This (outsourcing) took place in cash. So no tender was issued. No bidder was invited to conduct the examination... As there was no written tender, did some corrupt money transaction take place?”

The question hung in the air, heavy with implication. For students who have protested for transparency and fairness, the BJP’s allegations will likely fuel deeper frustration—and demand clearer answers from those in power.