Students and activists celebrate the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at Kaloor in Ernakulam on Saturday marking the success of the student and youth protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.
| Photo Credit: R.K. Nithin
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has welcomed the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.In a social media post on Saturday, Mr. Satheesan said the resignation was inevitable. Albeit late, the resignation was tendered when it became clear that Mr. Pradhan could no longer continue in his post. For days, students who had gathered on streets in protest following the NEET question paper leak had been assaulted to silence them. However, the attempt had failed. A big salute to Indian youth who displayed courage in their struggle. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Opposition parties strongly backed the student protests. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tried to save Mr. Pradhan even when serious accusations were made against him. In the end, Mr. Pradhan had to step down.“This is a historical victory. Dictators had to bend down in the face of the brave struggle,” the Chief Minister wrote.“Those who tried to crack down on the protests, incite the crowds to mar the protests, dragged the Leader of the Opposition through the streets, mishandled our MPs...those who adopted anti-democratic means to quell the protests are now hanging their head in shame,” the Chief Minister wrote on Facebook.Entrance tests such as NEET should be held without any irregularities, Mr. Satheesan said, appealing to the Union government to at least now refrain from playing with the future of students and their lives.Pinarayi welcomes moveLeader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Pinarayi Vijayan called Mr. Pradhan’s resignation a hard-earned victory for the students who stood firm in the face of repression, and a major setback for the Union government that chose to defend a discredited system instead of delivering justice. “But this struggle cannot end with one resignation. The National Testing Agency must be fundamentally restructured, and the fight must continue against the National Education Policy, which centralises power and undermines the rights of States. India deserves an education system that is transparent, accountable, and rooted in federalism,” Mr. Vijayan posted on the social media platform X. Priyanka’s reactionAICC general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday hailed the resignation of Mr. Pradhan, describing it as a victory for India’s youth and democracy after sustained student protests across the country.“I am very, very happy for many reasons. The main reason is that today, July 25, 2026, is the day the people of this country have started claiming their country back from those who tried to destroy the Constitution and suppress the voices of the people,” Ms. Vadra told reporters during her visit to Wayanad.Calling the development “a victory for the youth of India,” she praised students for conducting their agitation peacefully despite facing police action.Brilliant triumph for students: VenugopalAICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal, MP, has called the resignation of the Union Minister a brilliant triumph for Indian students and youth who waged a relentless struggle. Speaking to the media in Karunagappally on Saturday shortly after the Minister stepped down, he added that if the resignation had come earlier, the students would not have had to shed their blood.Observing that the Minister’s resignation does not mark the end of the issue, Mr. Venugopal demanded strict action against the officials who assaulted the students, financial assistance for the families of students who committed suicide, and the immediate withdrawal of all cases registered against the protesting youth.Victory of people: BabyThe resignation of Mr. Pradhan is the beginning of the end of the BJP-led rule at the Centre, CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby said while addressing the media in Kochi on Saturday.Mr. Baby said forcing the Minister to step down marked a huge victory of people’s intervention in public issues. He equated the triumph of the students’ protest to the prolonged farmers’ agitation that forced the Narendra Modi-led government to repeal the three controversial agricultural laws in 2021. Published - July 25, 2026 08:36 pm IST
