From George Fernandes to Kalyan Singh: Has Dharmendra Pradhan Entered BJP’s ‘Sacrifice’ Club?
Former Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan with BJP MPs in parliament. (Image Pradhan on X)
By NIRENDRA DEV
BJP leaders rally behind former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as slogans, public solidarity, and comparisons with George Fernandes and Kalyan Singh fuel speculation over his next political role.
New Delhi, July 28, 2026 — Former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan received a rousing welcome from BJP and NDA MPs when he arrived at Parliament on Monday, two days after resigning from the Union Cabinet over the NEET paper leak controversy.
As Pradhan stepped out of his car, smiling and folding his hands in namaste, BJP MPs greeted him with chants of “Dharmendra Pradhan zindabad.” One MP placed a traditional cap on his head and draped a shawl over his shoulders in a symbolic show of support for the Odisha leader.
The scenes of jubilation have triggered political speculation over whether the BJP is attempting to project Pradhan as a leader who made a political sacrifice in the larger political interest of the BJP.
One BJP MP remarked that this was perhaps the first time a Union Minister had resigned without facing any allegation of personal wrongdoing.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) had demanded Pradhan’s resignation over the NEET paper leak issue. As Pradhan entered Parliament, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh reportedly told him, “It happens.” Pradhan responded with a smile: “Nothing happened. I am a street fighter, not an AC-room activist.”
The remark quickly became the political talking point of the day.
Political circles are abuzz with speculation that Pradhan could soon be assigned a key organisational role within the BJP or entrusted with leading the party’s campaign in the upcoming Assembly elections in five states.
In a statement posted on X after his resignation on Saturday, Pradhan said: “I am pained to see the events of the past 10 days. This is not a matter of personal prestige for me.”
He added: “India’s youth power is the real strength of this nation. My resolve is that we will not let the country’s youth get trapped in a vicious cycle of confusion.”
His supporters argue that he has sacrificed his ministerial post in the BJP’s larger interest, a move they believe could strengthen both his political standing and his image in his Lok Sabha constituency of Sambalpur.
Following the BJP’s below-expectation performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Pradhan was widely credited within party circles for contributing to the BJP’s victory in Haryana. Earlier, he had played key organisational roles in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Karnataka.
Soon after his resignation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Pradhan’s residence. Senior BJP leaders, including party president Nitin Nabin and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, publicly praised the education reforms initiated during Pradhan’s tenure.
Comparisons with George Fernandes
The developments have prompted comparisons with former Defence Minister George Fernandes, who resigned in March 2001 following the Tehelka “Operation West End” sting.
Fernandes had said he stepped down to protect the morale of the armed forces. He was later re-inducted into the Union Cabinet by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Following his resignation, the NDA organised rallies across the country, many of which were addressed by Vajpayee and Fernandes himself.
The Congress had objected when Fernandes was allowed to address the nation through a Doordarshan broadcast after stepping down, with senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee demanding similar airtime for Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Years later, the Congress-led UPA government tabled the Phukan Commission report, which gave Fernandes a clean chit in most of the defence deals examined after the Tehelka expose, while pointing to procedural lapses in several procurement cases.
Fernandes later developed close political ties with Narendra Modi during Modi’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister and frequently visited the state after the 2002 riots.
Echoes of Kalyan Singh
Another parallel being drawn is with former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, who resigned on December 6, 1992, hours after the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
Kalyan Singh subsequently emerged as a prominent Hindutva figure and regularly appeared before the Supreme Court and the Liberhan Commission accompanied by large numbers of supporters.
The Liberhan Commission concluded that the demolition was a planned event facilitated by the state administration under his leadership. It also observed that key administrative officials had been transferred before December 6.
Years later, the Narendra Modi government appointed Kalyan Singh as the Governor of Rajasthan.
Whether Dharmendra Pradhan ultimately joins the political league of leaders such as George Fernandes and Kalyan Singh remains to be seen. For now, the BJP’s enthusiastic public display of solidarity suggests the party is determined to frame his resignation not as a political setback but as an act of leadership and sacrifice.
Dharmendra Pradhan Resignation Sparks Bigger Debate on Gen Z, Hindutva and India’s Political Future
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