Uncertainty is looming large over the recruitment of teachers at universities in the state.

After the state government directed the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) to slam brakes on the teachers' recruitment at the universities and education minister Ashok Choudhary announced constitution of Universities Service Commission (USC) for their appointments, RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Sunday snubbed Choudhary's idea.

Lalu said he stood for an open competition for appointment of college and school teachers and the old practices of appointment conducted by the BPSC and the Universities Service Commission must be done away with.

"There must be open competition test for recruitment of university and school teachers. Candidates with the eligibility criteria should be given a chance to appear for the test and on the basis of the merit score, candidates must be appointed," he said.

The RJD chief also demanded reservation according to the Mandal commission recommendations for appointment of vice-chancellors and pro-vice-chancellors at the universities. At present, there is no such reservation for appointing VCs and pro-VCs. The RJD leader added that he had spoken to the state education minister on the issue and will discuss it with chief minister Nitish Kumar.

Lalu's remarks on the recruitment brought to the fore the divergence of views of the Grand Alliance constituents not only politically, but also on policy issues.

Lalu's remark is contrary to Choudhary's stand where he had emphasised on the recruitment of assistant professors through Universities Service Commission.

Choudhary, while attending a function at the Patna Science College on August 22, had said the appointment in the state universities will be carried out by the Universities Service Commission after its revival. The Nitish Kumar government in 2007 had abolished the Universities Service Commission after charges of nepotism were levelled against it in conducting the recruitment process. The commission, which was constituted in 1982, was carrying out appointments till 2007.

The Telegraph tried to contact minister Choudhary but he remained incommunicado. He did not even reply to a message sent at 7.30pm on Sunday.

The BJP said the RJD chief's remark was creating confusion among lakhs of applicants waiting for appointment.

Senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav said: "The government is taking different decisions each day. The education minister says something, while the RJD chief says something else. It is high time that the chief minister clears his stand as the issue concerns the careers of lakhs of youths."

Academics, too, termed Lalu's remarks as confusing for the aspirants.

Patna College retired principal N.K. Choudhary said: "It is a tactic on the part of the state government to delay the teacher appointment process. The state government wants to destroy the state universities and replace it with private universities."

He said the BPSC should be allowed to complete the process.