New Delhi:Eventually Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the post of Education Minister. This has dealt an unexpected blow to his political career. He has also been considered a very successful strategist for BJP as a reliable election manager in challenging states. As Education Minister, Pradhan became the key face of the implementation of the ambitious National Education Policy (NEP). But due to the protests that broke out across the country regarding the NEET paper leak issue, he finally sent his resignation to the Prime Minister. Pradhan’s resignation is considered a major change from the government’s initially dismissive attitude towards the movement.
Second minister of Modi government to resign after controversy
In June, Dharmendra Pradhan himself had described the cockroach Janata Party as a ‘B-team of terrorists’ and alleged that it was working on behalf of forces which the public had rejected. He is the second Union Minister to resign after a public controversy during PM Modi’s tenure. Before him, in 2018, M.J. Akbar had resigned from the post of Minister of State for External Affairs after allegations of sexual harassment came to light during the ‘Me Too’ campaign. Dharmendra Pradhan is the second Education Minister of the country to resign after a controversy. Earlier in 1967, M.C.Chagla had resigned from the Indira Gandhi cabinet due to differences with the government on policy and political issues.
Political journey started from ABVP
Dharmendra Pradhan started his political journey in the year 1983 as a worker of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). He became a Union Minister three times. He performed many important responsibilities in his political career. Dharmendra Pradhan (57) is the son of former Union Minister Devendra Pradhan and in recent years, he has been BJP’s first choice for giving the responsibility of election in-charge in states like Bihar and Haryana.
Played important role in Uttarakhand and UP elections
Dharmendra Pradhan was also given the responsibility of 2017 Uttarakhand Assembly elections and 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. His most ambitious target remains his home state Odisha, where the BJP will form the government on its own for the first time in 2024. He was given only one responsibility in the 2021 assembly elections in West Bengal, which was to take charge of the Nandigram seat. The then Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had contested the elections from this seat and despite her party’s massive victory in the state, she lost the seat.
Contested the first election from Pallahara seat of Odisha in the year 2000.
Dharmendra Pradhan started his electoral journey in the year 2000 by contesting from Pallahara seat of Odisha. He contested elections from Deogarh Lok Sabha seat in 2004. This seat was earlier occupied by his father and former Union Minister Devendra Pradhan. After losing the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Pradhan distanced himself from direct electoral politics. However, due to his organizational ability and working skills, he was made the General Secretary of BJP in 2010. After this, in 2012 he was elected to Rajya Sabha from Bihar. After Narendra Modi came to power in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Dharmendra Pradhan was made the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas with independent charge.
Why did he come to be called ‘Ujjwala Man’?
Dharmendra Pradhan became popularly known as ‘Ujjwala Man’ due to the Ujjwala scheme which provides free LPG connections to poor families. He is also credited as the longest serving Union Minister in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. In the reshuffle of the Union Cabinet in the year 2017, he was made the Cabinet Minister of this ministry. Besides, additional responsibility of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship was also handed over. Even in the second term of Modi government, he was made a cabinet minister and given the responsibility of Petroleum Ministry. Dharmendra Pradhan was made the Union Education Minister and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister in 2021. During his tenure as Education and Skill Development Minister, he was entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the ambitious new National Education Policy (NEP).
Won from Sambalpur seat of Odisha in 2024
Dharmendra Pradhan returned to the House after 15 years by winning from Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat of Odisha in 2024. He defeated Pranab Prakash Das of Biju Janata Dal (BJP) by a margin of more than 1.19 lakh votes. In the year 2024, in the third term of the Modi government, he once again got the responsibility of the Education Ministry. However, his tenure got off to a rocky start amid the alleged paper leak controversy. Dharmendra Pradhan, one of the prominent faces of BJP in Odisha, was also being considered in the race to become the first BJP CM of the state after defeating Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJP) in the assembly elections and winning 78 seats. Dharmendra Pradhan, a resident of Talcher, Odisha, has obtained a master’s degree in Anthropology from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar. (input language)
Also read:
Prahlad Joshi gets additional charge of Education Ministry, President accepts Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation
SK Sharma is a content writer who writes on news, entertainment, and lifestyle topics. She has over four years of experience and is known for conveying information in simple and clear language.
