New Delhi: Former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan made his first public appearance in Parliament on Monday, July 27, 2026, receiving a grand reception from Bharatiya Janata Party and National Democratic Alliance lawmakers following his resignation two days earlier amid controversy over competitive exam paper leaks.
As Shri Pradhan stepped out of his vehicle at the Makar Dwar entrance, a large gathering of ruling coalition MPs greeted him, chanting slogans of “Dharmendra Pradhan Zindabad,” presenting him with a traditional cap, and draping a ceremonial shawl over his shoulders as a gesture of solidarity.
Shri Pradhan acknowledged the warm reception with folded hands before being escorted inside the complex by fellow party members, a move designed by the ruling alliance to frame his resignation as a principled act of political accountability and sacrifice rather than a capitulation to pressure.
During his time at the complex, Shri Pradhan remained upbeat, even telling Congress leader Shri Jairam Ramesh in a brief exchange that he was a “street fighter” who would continue his work regardless of holding a cabinet portfolio. Meanwhile, Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi was handed the additional charge of the Education Ministry.
Governing BJP and NDA party members highlighted that his resignation was a rare case of a Minister stepping down out of political accountability and sacrifice rather than personal corruption charges, signaling that he remains politically active and ready for future organizational roles.
The atmosphere inside Parliament remained charged as Opposition leaders staged a simultaneous demonstration nearby. Leaders including Shri Rahul Gandhi, Shrimati Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Shri Akhilesh Yadav raised slogans against examination malpractices and protested police action during recent student rallies.
The contrasting scenes between the ruling alliance welcoming Shri Pradhan and the Opposition holding protests over the exam paper leak controversy dominated the morning proceedings.