LPST Rank Holders’ Protest Enters 128th Day; Valarmathi’s Hunger Strike Continues

Thiruvananthapuram: The protest by LPST rank holders in front of the Secretariat, demanding the fulfilment of various demands, has entered its 128th day. Hunger strike by protest committee convenor Valarmathi has completed 16 days. The candidates have said they will continue the agitation until their demands are accepted. Valarmathi had announced that she had decided to refuse medical treatment. She also said she would resist any attempt to forcibly shift her to hospital.

Meanwhile, the government’s retaliatory action against the demonstrators continues. Cantonment police issued another notice to the protesters on Monday, demanding that they dismantle their protest tent. The notice directed them to remove the flex board, protest tent, and microphone system set up in front of the Secretariat as part of the satyagraha. Police warned that action would be taken against protest committee secretary S Valarmathi and other protesting candidates. The candidates said they would continue the agitation even if the tent was dismantled.

The main demand of the candidates is the implementation of a 1:25 ratio. However, the government has maintained that it will not accept this demand. After the candidates began their protest, the government had sought 45 days, saying it needed time to study the issue. As no action was taken, the candidates resumed their agitation.

As part of intensifying the protest, Valarmathi shaved her head and began an indefinite hunger strike. She had appeared for the LPST examination three times and secured a place on the rank list. In the last examination, which she took as her final opportunity, she secured 168th rank in Palakkad district.

Even the candidate who secured the first rank in the list published on May 31, 2025, has not received an appointment. Only 239 candidates across the state have been appointed, while around 11,000 candidates are included in the LPST rank list.