The political landscape in Haryana has been shaken by a storm of criticism after the BJP-led government abruptly cancelled recruitment for over 8,600 government jobs. These vacancies included more than 5,600 police positions and a significant number of Group C jobs, which were earlier announced with great fanfare during the pre-election phase in 2024. The cancellation has sparked sharp criticism from the Congress party, which has labeled the move as a blatant betrayal of voters. The issue has ignited a fierce political debate, putting the Nayab Singh Saini-led BJP government on the defensive and drawing strong reactions from youth groups, aspirants, and civil society.
Pre-Election Job Promises Now Withdrawn
In August 2024, ahead of the state assembly elections, the Haryana BJP government had announced a large-scale recruitment drive that included 5,666 police constable posts and 3,053 Group C jobs across various departments. This move was portrayed as a major employment initiative designed to boost opportunities for the state’s youth and was viewed as one of the key poll promises made by the BJP in their campaign. By showcasing these recruitments, the BJP succeeded in projecting itself as a pro-youth, pro-employment government, which eventually helped it secure 48 out of 90 seats in the assembly elections and ensured a third consecutive term in power.
However, just a few months after forming the government, the same BJP administration has now revoked these job notifications, citing administrative reasons. This abrupt decision has caused outrage among aspirants, many of whom had invested time, effort, and money preparing for the exams. The cancellation has been seen as a breach of trust, with opposition leaders accusing the BJP of misleading the public for electoral gains.
Government’s Reason: Push for a Common Eligibility Test
The primary reason given by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) for this sudden cancellation is the upcoming Common Eligibility Test (CET), which is scheduled to take place in July 2025. The government argues that the CET is aimed at introducing a uniform, transparent, and merit-based recruitment system across Group C and Group D categories in the state. Officials have stated that going forward, all recruitments will be made based on CET scores, thus eliminating any possibility of favoritism or irregularities in the hiring process.
While this argument holds administrative merit, critics argue that the timing of the decision is questionable. If the government had planned to shift entirely to CET-based recruitment, it should not have announced traditional job openings just before elections. Many are calling this a classic case of political opportunism, where the promise of jobs was used as a tool to gather votes and then conveniently discarded post-election under the guise of reform.
Congress Attacks: “BJP Has Betrayed the Youth”
The opposition Congress party has been relentless in its attack on the BJP over this issue. Senior Congress leaders such as Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Randeep Singh Surjewala, and Kumari Selja have held press conferences and public rallies condemning what they call a betrayal of Haryana’s youth. Surjewala labeled the move as “voter betrayal”, accusing the BJP of deceiving young voters with false hopes.
According to Surjewala, over 8,653 positions have now been cancelled, including nearly 5,666 police jobs and several thousand administrative posts. He stated that the decision proves the BJP was never serious about employment, but only about electoral victories. Hooda added that such actions reveal the BJP’s disrespect for the unemployed youth of Haryana and expose the party’s tendency to treat job creation as a political gimmick rather than a governance priority.
Aspirants Shocked and Devastated
The worst affected by this decision are the thousands of youth who were preparing for the exams with the hope of securing stable government jobs. Many of these aspirants come from rural backgrounds and financially struggling families, and had pinned all their hopes on this recruitment. Months of preparation, coaching expenses, and emotional investment now seem wasted. One aspirant from Rohtak said, “We studied day and night thinking this was our chance. Now they’ve pulled the rug from under us. It feels like a betrayal from the very government we trusted.”
This sentiment is widespread. The move has triggered disappointment, protests, and social media outrage, with hashtags like #HaryanaJobs and #VoterBetrayal trending online. Many aspirants are now demanding that the cancelled job notifications be restored immediately or that a fast-tracked CET process be implemented to avoid prolonged unemployment and uncertainty.
BJP’s Defense: CET Will Ensure Merit-Based Hiring
Facing mounting criticism, BJP leaders have come forward to defend the decision. Government spokespersons and HSSC officials have insisted that the CET-based system is a long-term solution to Haryana’s recruitment challenges. They argue that under previous governments, hiring was marred by nepotism and lack of transparency, and that CET will establish a level playing field for all candidates.
According to Praveen Attrey, Haryana BJP’s media coordinator, the recruitment cancellation is a technical adjustment to bring the system in line with CET norms. He further added that the government has already issued 24,000 appointment letters for contractual jobs, which shows their commitment to employment generation. However, the question remains whether these explanations will satisfy the thousands of youth who feel they have been taken for a ride.
Heated Exchanges Inside the Haryana Assembly
The job cancellation issue has also rocked the Haryana legislative assembly, where opposition MLAs have demanded answers and accountability. Debates have grown heated, with Congress MLAs questioning the legitimacy of the CET timing, asking why recruitment notices were issued if they were never meant to be honored. The BJP, in response, brought up past scandals under Congress rule, where recruitment scams were uncovered. However, these counter-arguments have not dulled the impact of the present controversy.
The Congress party, riding the wave of public anger, has announced plans for mass protests and public awareness campaigns across Haryana, especially targeting youth voters who played a key role in the BJP’s electoral success last year. They are also demanding a White Paper on recruitment and employment, seeking full disclosure on how many posts were promised, advertised, and then scrapped.
Unemployment Crisis Deepens in Haryana
This controversy comes at a time when Haryana already faces one of the highest unemployment rates in India. According to data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the state’s unemployment rate has fluctuated between 28% and 35% in recent years. In this context, any move that delays or cancels job opportunities is bound to have severe economic and social consequences.
Youth across the state are now questioning whether the government is committed to job creation or simply using employment as a campaign slogan. With high competition, rising frustration, and eroding trust, many believe this decision could have long-lasting political repercussions, especially in urban and semi-urban constituencies.
What Lies Ahead: CET and Public Expectations
With the Common Eligibility Test scheduled for July, the state government now finds itself at a crossroads. If the CET is conducted smoothly and followed by quick, transparent recruitment, some of the public outrage might be pacified. However, any further delays or confusion could only intensify the anger and reinforce the image of the government as untrustworthy.
The Congress party has demanded that the government immediately re-advertise the cancelled posts or guarantee equivalent hiring through CET within a fixed timeline. They have also proposed compensation mechanisms for aspirants who suffered losses due to the abrupt policy shift. Meanwhile, civil society groups are calling for independent oversight to ensure that the CET system is fair, transparent, and efficient.
The decision by the Haryana BJP government to cancel over 8,600 job postings may have administrative justification, but the political and emotional cost appears much higher. For a government that won elections promising jobs, the withdrawal of employment opportunities feels like a deep violation of public trust. In a state battling high unemployment and rising frustration among its youth, such decisions can spark far-reaching consequences.
The Congress party’s strong reaction, the growing discontent among aspirants, and the nationwide attention to this issue are all signs that the government will need to act swiftly and sensitively. The CET system must not only be implemented efficiently but also produce real results—and fast. If it fails, the BJP risks losing the trust it worked hard to earn from a generation that is watching every step closely.
