Udupi District Congress Committee leaders celebrate the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, at the Congress Bhavan in Udupi on Saturday.

| Photo Credit: UMESH S. SHETTIGAR

The Udupi District Congress Committee held a celebration at the Congress Bhavan in Udupi on Saturday after Dharmendra Pradhan announced that he has tendered his resignation from the post of Union Education Minister.Party workers gathered in front of the Congress Bhavan and celebrated by shouting slogans against the BJP-led Union government and bursting firecrackers.Speaking on the occasion, MLC Ivan D’Souza said: “It is a significant development that a minister has resigned from the BJP-led Union government after almost 12 years. In all these years, it has not been possible to secure the resignation of a minister in any case. But this resignation came about as a result of the struggle waged by students across the country in the NEET examination paper leak case, the continuous struggle of the Congress and public pressure. This is a victory for democracy.”Mr. D’Souza said the Congress was at the forefront of the fight against the case, as injustice had been done to lakhs of students across the country. There had been continuous protests against the BJP government, which had tried to suppress the voices of students. This resignation, the result of the struggle for justice for students, is the first victory for them. There is growing dissatisfaction among the people over the BJP government’s “authoritarian attitude and anti-student policies”, he alleged.Former minister Vinay Kumar Sorake said: “The first wicket has fallen in the country because of the students’ protests. As a result of the students’ struggle, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has obtained the resignation of a minister. He should also resign in the coming days, taking moral responsibility for the NEET question paper leak.”Former MP K. Jayaprakash Hegde, District Congress Committee president Ashok Kumar Kodavoor and others were present at the celebration. Published - July 25, 2026 07:57 pm IST