The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Saturday launched its protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar against the alleged NEET 2026 paper leak and reported irregularities in the CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, while reiterating its demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Protesters raised slogans calling for accountability and pressed for Pradhan's resignation, chanting, "Dharmendra Pradhan Istifa do (Dharmendra Pradhan step down). We asked for 'Make in India', you gave us 'Leak in India'."
Read more: Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke joins students, youth in Jantar Mantar protest
Who is Dharmendra Pradhan?
Dharmendra Pradhan is a senior BJP leader and a Rajya Sabha MP who currently serves as India's Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. He represents Madhya Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha and has previously served as a member of the 14th Lok Sabha.
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Born in Talcher, Odisha, Pradhan is the son of Debendra Pradhan. He began his political journey through the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the BJP's student wing, where he rose through the ranks and served as its National Secretary.
Early Political Career
Pradhan entered electoral politics in 2000 when he was elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly from the Pallahara constituency. He later won the Deogarh Lok Sabha seat in 2004, becoming a member of the 14th Lok Sabha.
In March 2012, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar and subsequently emerged as one of the BJP's prominent national leaders.
Rise in the Modi Government
Pradhan joined the Union Council of Ministers after the BJP-led NDA came to power in 2014. In 2016, he was elevated to Cabinet rank and given additional charge of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
On September 3, 2017, he was appointed Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas. He also briefly held charge of the Ministry of Steel and was inducted as a permanent member of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) alongside Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal.
Pradhan holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister in independent India's history, continuing in the role through the second Modi government that began in May 2019.
Education Minister and NEP Implementation
In 2021, Pradhan took charge as Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. He retained these portfolios in the Modi government formed after the 2024 general election.
As Education Minister, he has been responsible for overseeing the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Pradhan has received several honours, including the Best Legislator Award, the Utkalmani Gopabandhu Pratibha Samman (2002-03), and the Odisha Citizens' Award in 2013.
