Devendra Mahto launches examination reform Yatra in Jharkhand

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JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto during the launch of the 24-District JPSC-JSSC 'Recruitment System Reform Yatra at Nemra village, the birthplace of former CM Shibu Soren, in Ramgarh district of Jharkhand, to bring reform in the recruitment examinations on August 24, 2026. | Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap

Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto on Monday (August 24, 2026) launched Bharti Vayayastha Sudhar Yatra (Recruitment System Reform Journey) from Nemra village, the birthplace of former Chief Minister Shibu Soren in Ramgarh district of Jharkhand.

Mr. Mahto, who is leading the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC)-Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) Abhyarthi Nyay Manch, began the Yatra after garlanding the statue of Shibu Soren located in the village in the government school premises.

He, along with his supporters, chanted the slogans of Shibu Soren Amar Rahe and long live Jharkhand. The Yatra is the second phase of the campaign demanding a transparent, fair, and corruption-free recruitment system for JPSC and JSSC.

The Yatra was inaugurated in accordance with traditional tribal customs, in the presence of a senior Pahan (traditional tribal priest). Holding the photo frame of Shibu Soren, he also planted a Sakhua sapling.

From Ramgarh, the statewide Yatra will proceed through Hazaribagh, Chatra, Koderma, Giridih, Deoghar, Dumka, Godda, Sahibganj, Pakur, Jamtara and other districts before it will conclude in Ranchi.

The motive behind the Yatra is to garner public support for transparency, accountability, and fairness in the recruitment examination. Mr. Mahto was himself found on the driving seat of the Traveller, which was fully wrapped with photographs of national leaders who played a role to get Independence including the Jharkhand leaders who played an important role for a separate state.

“We are doing this for the better future of the students who are continuously facing the issue of paper leaks in Jharkhand. For the last 26 years, the students of Jharkhand have been struggling, when they go to take an exam and when they return home, they come to know that the paper of that particular exam got leaked. The paper leak not only shatters the dream of students but family members as well,”Mr. Mahto said.

Before the arrival of Mr. Mahto, the villagers of Nemra blocked the road leading towards the ancestral house of Shibu Soren. Carrying traditional weapons like bows and arrows, axes, and sticks, the villagers staged the road blockade.

The villagers said that they got the information that Mr. Mahto’s supporters had planned to burn the effigy of Chief Minister Hemant Soren in Nemra, and they will never allow this to happen.

“How can anyone burn the effigy of Hemant Soren ji in Nemra? He is our Chief Minister, and nobody can dare to do this. If they burn it, the consequence would be horrifying,“ said Srikhant Soren, a resident of Nemra.

Women of the village have also gathered with traditional weapons, and they sat on the road.