The Bharatiya Janata Party has denied that Dharmendra Pradhan was offered another Cabinet portfolio before resigning as Union education minister, calling reports of such an arrangement “completely fictional” and “unfounded”.BJP spokesperson and Puri MP Sambit Patra said the central government had made no proposal to shift Pradhan to another ministry during negotiations with representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP. He accused the reports of lacking authenticity and being published to sensationalise the circumstances surrounding the resignation.
The denial followed claims that ministers holding talks with the youth-led movement had initially proposed replacing Pradhan at the education ministry while retaining him in the Union Council of Ministers. The reports said CJP representatives rejected that option and continued to insist that he leave the Cabinet altogether.
Patra said no such discussion took place. He referred specifically to reports claiming that BJP president and Union minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and Minister of State Jitendra Singh had presented the portfolio-change proposal during negotiations with the CJP delegation.
“This report is completely baseless. It is entirely fictional and unfounded,” Patra told reporters. He said the account had no factual basis and misrepresented the government’s engagement with the protesters.
Pradhan resigned on July 25 after weeks of demonstrations over examination paper leaks, alleged administrative failures and demands for political accountability. The President accepted his resignation from the Union Council of Ministers with immediate effect under Article 75 of the Constitution.
Pralhad Joshi was assigned additional charge of the Ministry of Education alongside his existing Cabinet responsibilities. The official communiqué accepting Pradhan’s resignation did not mention any alternative assignment for him or indicate that he would remain in the government.
The resignation came after the CJP organised protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and mobilised supporters in several cities. The campaign had gathered momentum following the cancellation of the NEET undergraduate medical entrance examination after allegations that questions had been leaked.
About two million candidates appeared for the examination on May 3. The National Testing Agency cancelled it on May 12, and a fresh test was conducted on June 21. The episode intensified scrutiny of examination security and the government’s handling of alleged fraud in competitive tests.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke began demonstrations demanding Pradhan’s resignation in early June. A prolonged sit-in started at Jantar Mantar on June 20, while activist Sonam Wangchuk later joined the campaign with a hunger strike.
The agitation escalated after Wangchuk’s health deteriorated and authorities moved him to hospital. Tens of thousands of protesters subsequently attempted to march towards Parliament, leading to clashes, the use of tear gas and baton charges, and allegations of excessive police action.
Opposition parties backed the demand for Pradhan’s removal and raised the examination controversy inside and outside Parliament. Congress leaders and lawmakers from several other parties accused the government of resisting accountability despite the impact of paper leaks on students and families.
Government representatives held multiple rounds of negotiations with the CJP leadership as pressure intensified. Pradhan’s departure was followed by the suspension of the agitation, with movement leaders describing the resignation as an important victory but maintaining that broader reforms remained necessary.
Pradhan said while stepping down that he wanted to prevent hostile forces from exploiting the situation. His exit marked a significant political concession by the government after it had initially defended the education ministry’s response and emphasised criminal investigations and administrative reforms.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi subsequently announced a task force headed by technology entrepreneur Nandan Nilekani to recommend changes to the examination system.
