Pradhan Offered to Resign on First Day of Protests, Claims BJP Leader Vijayvargiya

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday, taking moral responsibility for the NEET-UG 2025 paper leak controversy that sparked nationwide student protests. Shortly after, Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya claimed that Pradhan had offered to step down on the very first day of the demonstrations at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.

Speaking to news agency PTI in Indore, Vijayvargiya stated that Pradhan informed the BJP leadership early on that he was willing to resign if the party deemed it necessary. He quoted Pradhan as telling the BJP president: 'If you feel it is necessary, I am ready to resign as education minister.' According to Vijayvargiya, the party president asked Pradhan not to submit his resignation at that time, advising him not to discuss the matter further until a decision was taken.

Vijayvargiya also defended Pradhan, describing him as honest and dedicated, and alleged that the resignation foiled attempts by 'foreign forces' to destabilise India by fuelling unrest similar to that witnessed in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This claim has not been independently verified.

Following Pradhan's resignation, the Coordinated Action Committee of Students (CACS) — earlier referred to as the 'Cockroach Janta Party' in some reports — withdrew its 36-day agitation, which had mobilised thousands over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET paper leak.

Senior BJP leader Pralhad Joshi has been given additional charge of the Union Ministry of Education. Joshi, who already holds portfolios of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and New and Renewable Energy, said he accepted the responsibility 'with a sense of duty and humility' and pledged to work towards strengthening India's education system under the guidance of the Prime Minister.