Kolkata:
Would you agree with the view that after its debacle in the Lok Sabha elections of 2009, the Left Front Government will face its Waterloo in the Assembly elections of 2011? This, was asked as a question the West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS) exam held on July 4.
With this begins the controversy. Even though, no one wants to publicly criticise the Public Service Commission that set the paper, political parties and bureaucrats are stunned because the way the question is framed, aspirants have to virtually take political sides.
The examinees didn't have to answer it compulsorily. There were choices. But that the question was asked, of potential civil servants in the West Bengal government, is enough to raise eyebrows.
Niloy Ghosh, Chief, WBCS exec officers' association says, " From my side, personally I feel that that this political question having severe political connotations could have been avoided in the question paper. This is overtly political question. ...I have never come across such a controversial question I can say...there is no doubt the question has raised some controversy."
No one would take on the Public Service Commission which has an impeccable record. But the Left is stunned and the Trinamool surprised. Civil servants are asking if the question couldn't have been phrased differently as in its present form, it virtually demands that the examinee take sides.
While the Left's fate in next year's polls is a freely debated question at informal addas, the same in a formal exam for would be civil servants is a different matter. However, it would probably interesting to know how many of the candidates, who actually took the test, answered that question.