Former Education Minister Pradhan Welcomed in Parliament

Former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan received a rousing welcome from his political allies in Parliament on Monday, July 27, 2026, just two days after resigning amid a nationwide controversy over alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). The event highlighted deep political divisions as opposition lawmakers simultaneously staged a protest against the government's handling of student demonstrations.

Pradhan, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of Parliament from Odisha, was greeted by cheering MPs from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as he arrived at the Parliament complex. Supporters gathered at the Makar Dwar entrance, raising slogans of "Dharmendra Pradhan zindabad" and presenting him with a traditional cap and ceremonial shawl in a show of solidarity. The warm reception followed his resignation on Saturday, July 25, which came after weeks of intensifying student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanding his removal over the NEET exam discrepancies.

In a statement announcing his resignation on social media platform X, Pradhan said he was pained by recent events and that the issue was not a matter...