Setback in Delhi, not Odisha: Why Dharmendra Pradhan remains undiminished in state

Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Education Minister on Saturday. (File Photo) 6 min readBhubaneswarJul 27, 2026 06:23 AM IST First published on: Jul 27, 2026 at 06:23 AM IST Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as Union Education minister amid nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak is likely to have significant implications in Odisha politics and has fuelled speculation that it could reshape the BJP’s power dynamics in the state. Among the few Odias who have made a mark in national politics and wielded influence across India, Pradhan, 57, also enjoys “unmatched clout” within the Odisha BJP, which rallied behind him during the Cockroach Janta Party protests in New Delhi.