New Delhi, July 27 (IANS) Dharmendra Pradhan made his first appearance in Parliament on Monday after resigning as Union Education Minister. He received a rousing welcome from BJP and NDA MPs. It was a show of the NDA’s continued backing for the Odisha leader.

During the reception, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh approached Pradhan and expressed sympathy over his resignation, saying, “It happens.” Pradhan responded sharply, saying, “Nothing happened. I am a street fighter, not an AC-room activist.” The brief exchange was viewed by analysts as a message that Pradhan remains politically confident despite stepping down from the Cabinet.

One BJP MP remarked that it was perhaps the first time a Union Minister had resigned without facing any personal allegation. Pradhan resigned on Saturday following weeks of nationwide protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party over the alleged NEET 2026 paper leak and other irregularities in the examination system of the country.

His resignation has sparked speculation that the BJP could entrust him with a key organisational responsibility or assign him to lead the party’s campaign in one of the five states heading for Assembly elections.

Apart from being one of the BJP’s tallest leaders in Odisha, Pradhan has handled crucial electoral responsibilities across the country, including Bihar, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Karnataka. He also played an important role in the BJP’s West Bengal campaign, where the party formed its first government in the state in May 2026.

Senior BJP leaders have rallied behind Pradhan since his resignation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited his residence, while BJP president Nitin Nabin and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised his contribution to the education sector.

Party leaders insist that his resignation reflects political accountability, sacrifice and action in the national interest rather than any decline in his political stature. In his resignation statement, Pradhan said he was pained by recent events and reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the interests of India’s youth.

–IANS

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