Following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to widespread student agitation related to the controversy around leaking of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)-UG paper, political leaders from across the country released their views regarding Pradhan's exit.
Rahul Gandhi ( Leader of Opposition): Called Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation a "huge step towards reshaping our education system" and praised the nation's youth for standing firm to protect democracy and their future. Sharing a video message on X, Gandhi emphasized that two key demands remain—a formal apology from the Prime Minister and strict action against those guilty of violence against protesting students, before calling on other suppressed sections of society to draw courage from this movement to constitutionally challenge the government.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (Congress MP): Called the moment a "victory for the youth of India" and a defining turning point where citizens have "started claiming their country back." Praising the resilience of students who faced police lathis, tear gas, and pellet guns without resorting to violence, Vadra emphasized that their steadfast agitation honored the principles of Mahatma Gandhi. She declared that by forcing the government to bend, the nation's young people proved that in a democracy, the will of the people remains paramount and cannot be suppressed by any leader, dictator, or force.
Arvind Kejriwal (AAP National Convenor): Issued a celebratory statement congratulating the country's youth on the outcome of their agitation as Education Minister of India Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. Kejriwal called the minister's resignation a major victory for Indian democracy, noting that people were starting to lose faith that the government would listen to citizens raising their voices.
Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra Chief Minister: Praised Dharmendra Pradhan for stepping down, saying the BJP leader placed national interest above personal considerations. Fadnavis credited Pradhan with leading education sector reforms, including the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), launch of PM SHRI Schools, expansion of IITs abroad and conducting national entrance examinations in 19 languages. He said Pradhan's resignation reflected his commitment to the larger good of society and added, "The entire BJP family stands firmly with him."
Uddhav Thackeray & Raj Thackeray (Shiv Sena - UBT & MNS Chiefs) : Said that their scheduled Sunday rally at Mumbai's Shivaji Park will proceed as planned to celebrate the nation's youth for bringing the country out of an "atmosphere of fear." In a sharp critique of the administration, Uddhav Thackeray added, "A cockroach has made a dictator bow. Those who addressed the youth as cockroaches should not behave in an arrogant manner," emphasizing that the movement extended beyond Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Uddhav Thackrey congratulated activist Abhijit Dipke and the youth movement, stating that a united generation brought the country out of an "atmosphere of fear" and successfully defeated an "arrogant government."
V D Satheesan, Kerala Chief Minister: Called Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation a victory for students and the country's youth. He said the resignation became inevitable after attempts to suppress student protests failed. Satheesan congratulated the youth for their determination, accused the Centre of trying to shield Pradhan, and said NEET examinations must be conducted in a transparent and error-free manner.
Naveen Patnaik, BJD chief: Congratulated the youth of India, especially Gen Z, on the development. He said accountability and sensitivity to public opinion are important values of a strong democracy and added that "nobody is above the will of the people." Patnaik said the voices of young people must be heard and that the future of India belongs to the youth.
Sharad Pawar: Praised the resilience and unity of India's youth, describing Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's exit as an ultimate "triumph of democracy." In a statement posted on X, Pawar commended the students' month-long agitation at Jantar Mantar: "The struggle and determination shown by the youth over 28 consecutive days at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in the NEET paper leak case is truly commendable. In response to the insistent demand of the protesters, the Union Education Minister has finally resigned today."
Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress President): Termed Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation a "victory of truth" and stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "stubbornness was ultimately defeated."
Pinarayi Vijayan, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly: Described the resignation as a hard-earned victory for students who stood firm despite repression and a setback for the Union government. He said the National Testing Agency (NTA) should be fundamentally restructured and the struggle against the National Education Policy (NEP) must continue.
Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena - UBT MP) : Said that "for 12 years, Indian democracy was in a coma; this movement has revived it," while hailing Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as a testament to the power of student-led democratic protests.
Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party Chief & MP): Termed the resignation a "major victory for the new generation," noting that the widespread youth movement on the streets and social media forced even the world's largest political party to bow down. He urged the government to take concrete steps to prevent paper leaks and overhaul the system from primary to higher education, adding, "People from all political parties should learn from this that in the future, the examinations will have to be strengthened so that no papers are leaked and avenues for employment and jobs will have to be opened for the youth."
Pawan Khera (Congress MP): Congratulated the youth, unemployed, and students for effectively "sacking" the Education Minister. Describing Dharmendra Pradhan as a symbol of an abysmal system, Khera emphasized that the broader fight continues against a system that led to 21 student suicides in recent months and 93 over five years.
Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena - UBT MP): Stated that public outrage over the harsh treatment of protesting children by Delhi Police forced the government to pay the price through this resignation, praising the students for standing up and winning their fight.
Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM MP: Said Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation was the result of the struggle and sacrifices of young protesters. He congratulated them and said the development sent a message that "dictatorship will no longer be tolerated." Owaisi added that democracy must function within the framework of the Constitution drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar and hoped there would be no paper leaks in future state or national examinations.
KC Venugopal (Congress MP) : Hailed Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as a "victory for India's youth" and a win for democratic accountability. In a statement posted on X, Venugopal asserted that the collective power of millions of students, backed by Rahul Gandhi and a united Opposition, compelled the "incompetent, corrupt, and guilty" minister to step down over the NEET paper leak row. Celebrating the government bowing down to the nation's youth, Venugopal emphasized that the movement will continue until systemic educational reforms are achieved, those who attacked protesting students are punished, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi issues an official apology.
Mamata Banerjee (TMC Chief): Took a sharp jab at Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's departure, quoting the iconic Sholay dialogue, "Jo dar gaya, woh mar gaya," to characterize the government's retreat in the face of widespread student protests.
Jairam Ramesh (Congress General Secretary): Asserting that the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is only a partial victory, Ramesh stated that the opposition's fight for accountability is far from over: "This is not the end; we still await the Prime Minister's apology to the students."
N itin Nabin (BJP Leader): Praised Dharmendra Pradhan's role in reforming India's education landscape and implementing NEP 2020, stating that his decision to step down to prioritize larger interests "reflects the highest standards of integrity and selfless service in public life." He affirmed that the BJP stands firmly with Pradhan and extended his best wishes for his future endeavors.
Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam CM): Acknowledged Dharmendra Pradhan's contributions to education reforms following his resignation, highlighting his efforts toward "restoring the civilisational spirit of Bharat" and implementing NEP 2020 as among his "finest contributions to nation-building."
Priyank Kharge, Karnataka Home Minister: Alleged that Dharmendra Pradhan did not resign out of remorse over the NEET paper leak issue. Kharge said neither Pradhan nor Prime Minister Narendra Modi had accepted responsibility or expressed regret, claiming that the resignation came only after sustained nationwide student protests.
Bhupinder Singh Hooda (Congress Leader): Said, "Better late than never. This should have come earlier. There wouldn't have been so much damage. The young generation across the country has lost faith in exams, so the entire system should change. A new system should be introduced... The demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as Education Minister wasn't just from Congress alone; it was from the youth of the entire country..."
Manoj Jha (RJD MP) : Remarked that young people turned every corner of the country into a Jantar Mantar, forcing the government to bow. He noted that Gen Z, often dismissed as the "reel generation"—effectively bridged the gap between social media awareness and real-world impact.
Rekha Gupta (Delhi Chief Minister): Defended Dharmendra Pradhan's tenure, stating on X that he fulfilled his public duties with honesty and dedication, making "significant contributions" to the education system through the effective implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP 2020).
Manish Sisodia (AAP Leader & Former Delhi Deputy CM): Reflecting on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's departure, Sisodia framed the moment as an unprecedented shift in youth politics. Highlighting that the credit belongs entirely to the student movement, Sisodia stated: "Dharmendra Pradhan has not given resignation. The youth generation of the country, the students of the country, the Gen Z of the country have taken the resignation from Dharmendra Pradhan… This is a very big victory."
Shashi Tharoor (Congress MP): Welcomed Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, stating that "accountability in democracy cannot be evaded."
Mayawati (BSP Chief) : Called the resignation appropriate though delayed and demanded strict criminal action against police officers who brutalized student protesters, the immediate withdrawal of all FIRs against the youth, and warned students against political exploitation of their movement.
Mohammad Azharuddin: Welcomed the development following the NEET paper leak controversy, stating simply, "Good that it happened."
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, BJP Kerala President and MLA: Thanked outgoing minister Dharmendra Pradhan for leading key education reforms, including the implementation of the National Education Policy. He praised Pradhan's contribution to higher education and wished him success in his future endeavours.
Ram Kadam (BJP MLA): Defended Dharmendra Pradhan, stating that opposition and foreign forces misled students over the past two months. He highlighted that Pradhan prioritized students' futures by ordering a CBI probe and initiating a new exam model for next year, emphasizing his lifelong dedication to student welfare and educational reform.
Prakash Ambedkar (VBA Chief): Hailed the resignation as a "win of democracy and students" following the widespread agitation over examination irregularities.
Mehbooba Mufti (PDP Chief): Called the exit a victory for India's youth, saying, "Gandhi's India is reclaiming its space in our country." She commended the non-violent students for upholding the 'Idea of India' and proved that the nation's future remains in safe hands.
Saravanan Annadurai: Hailed the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as a "massive victory for democracy," emphasizing that the outcome was a direct result of students placing their unwavering faith in peaceful, democratic methods to protest against injustice.
Kunal Ghosh (TMC MLA): Said, "He should have done it earlier... BJP was trying to protect him. This is the victory of the people and students who were protesting... This is the victory of the whole country..."
Waris Pathan (AIMIM Leader): Congratulated Gen-Z and student protesters, calling the resignation a victory for democracy. He noted that students demanded accountability and stood their ground peacefully despite facing lathi-charges, ultimately forcing the government to give in to their demands.
Harpal Singh Cheema (Punjab Finance Minister): Said, "Ever since the BJP came to power in the country, exam papers started being sold. They were leaked, and lakhs of children across the country took to the streets to protest against it... The downfall of the BJP has begun. From today, these same children who were protesting will give a befitting reply to the BJP whenever any state or national election comes."
Nirmal Kumar (Tamil Nadu Minister): Welcomed the resignation, calling it a significant victory for the peaceful, sustained student movement over the NEET issue.
Kapil Sibal (Rajya Sabha MP): Said, "They (BJP Leaders) have nothing to do with the country's problems. I want to ask: what have they done since 2014 till today? Only Hindu-Muslim. Their only goal is to win elections."
Prakash Ambedkar, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief: Said Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation did not reflect any regret over the alleged student deaths linked to the NEET paper leak. He also claimed that the resignation did not include any assurance of action against police personnel accused of using force against protesting youths.
(This is a developing story)
