The Tamil Nadu opposition parties and the allied parties in the ruling ADMK government have strongly condemned the appointment of Jawarharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor as the head of the search panel that was set up to choose the vice chancellor for the Madras University. 

The nomination that was made by Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit had sparked the controversy as the state opposition parties alleged that the nomination has the intent of saffronizing the varsities and the institutes in the state towards pushing BJP's agenda. DMK President and State opposition leader MK Stalin has questioned the ADMK regime whether the nomination was the part of the ruling government's attempt to push the saffron agenda on the educational corridors of the state.

In the statement that he posted on Twitter, Stalin said that it's worrying that the state governor is working against the constitution by imposing the BJP's agenda in the state's higher education. He further stated that under the name of creating transparency in choosing the Vice-Chancellor of the University, the Governor is acting against the political ethics and attempting to saffronize the higher education institutes in the state. 

Stalin urged the governor to appoint an educationalist based in Tamil Nadu to head the panel to choose the Vice-chancellor for the Madras University. He appealed the governor to stop insulting the state by creating a false impression that the state doesn't have eligible persons to lead the search panel. He further stated that the governor's nomination has set the bad precedent.

Along with Stalin, PMK party, which observes alliance with the ruling ADMK, has taken a tough stand on condemning the appointment of JNU VC. PMK founder Dr. Ramadoss has slashed the move and divulged that the nomination has the intention of picking someone from another state as VC of Madras University. By questioning whether the state has no educationalist to lead the panel, Ramadoss stated that it would set a dangerous precedent for the varsities in Tamil Nadu if the charge has been taken by the people from other states. He demanded the state government not to permit the nomination and urged to name a state-based educationalist to head the panel.

அரசியல் சட்ட நெறிமுறைகளுக்குப் புறம்பாக, சென்னைப் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் துணைவேந்தர் பதவிக்கான தேடுதல் குழுவின் தலைவராக டெல்லி #JNU பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின் துணைவேந்தர் ஜெகதீஷ் குமாரை தமிழக ஆளுநர் நியமித்தது பாஜக-வின் காவிமயக் கல்விக் கொள்கையை தமிழக உயர்கல்வியில் புகுத்துவதற்காகவா? pic.twitter.com/wXX402CXeA

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 5, 2020

JNU VC Jagadeesh Kumar went through intense criticisms on how he responded to the anarchy and arsons that were reported from the JNU premises in January in which dozens of students and faculty were injured after a group of unidentified mob attacked them amid the anti CAA protests. While the criticisms on his unresponsive actions were persisting, the Tamil Nadu governor's move of appointing him to identify the VC for Madras University has spurred up the controversy where his nomination has also been criticized by the Madras Univ faculty. Recently, the governor formed a search panel to find the replacement for the incumbent Vice-chancellor of Madras University Duraisamy, whose three-year tenure ends in May. The search panel which comprises of three members and Jagadeesh Kumar was appointed to head the panel while the other two members of the panel include P Ramasamy, the former vice-chancellor of Alagappa University, who is a syndicate nominee and P Maruthamuthu, former Vice-chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University, who is a senate nominee.