The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday defended Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) chairman Vivek Bhimanwar, stating that he was not connected to the paper leak controversy, while welcoming his decision to go on leave on “moral grounds”.

Navnath Ban, the BJP's chief spokesperson in Maharashtra, alleged that the agitation by MPSC aspirants had taken a political turn despite Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accepting their demands from the outset.