Left Front demands Bengal education minister's resignation

The Left Front Wednesday demanded the resignation of West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu following protests over alleged irregularities in recruitment of primary teachers in the state.

"The student unions of Left parties are demanding the state education minister's resignation and fresh recruitment examination. I back their demands," leader of opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra told media persons outside the state assembly.

Mishra said only half the vacancies were filled through the competitive examination held for recruitment of teachers.

"I had earlier raised the question as to why only half the vacancies were filled. We were not aware then that the only qualification was that he or she has to be a relative of a Trinamool Congress leader or worker," he said.

A private television channel had broadcast an audio recording where a woman -- purportedly chairperson of a district primary school council involved in the recruitment process -- conceded that senior Trinamool Congress leaders had interfered in the matter.

The chairperson has, however, claimed that the audio was "distorted".

Basu has accused the opposition of trying to jeopardise the recruitment process.