Political Turmoil in Punjab Following Resignation of Former Education Minister

The political landscape in Punjab is currently tumultuous following the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The BJP has accused the Aam Aadmi Party's Education Minister of being involved in a paper leak scandal, demanding his resignation. However, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has firmly rejected these claims, asserting that no paper leaks have occurred during his tenure. This article delves into the accusations, responses from both parties, and the implications for Punjab's political future.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 26, 2026, 17:54 IST

Political Fallout in Punjab

The resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has sparked significant political unrest in Punjab. The BJP has raised concerns over an alleged paper leak, demanding the resignation of the Aam Aadmi Party's Education Minister, Harjot Singh Bains. In response, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has dismissed these allegations, asserting that there have been no paper leaks during his administration.

BJP Targets AAP and Arvind Kejriwal

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari criticized the Aam Aadmi Party, questioning, "When will the Punjab Education Minister resign? If Arvind Kejriwal speaks of ethics, when will he demand the resignation of his education minister in Punjab?" He highlighted serious allegations of malpractice and paper leaks in various examinations, including the PSEB Class 12 English board exam, Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test, Agricultural Development Officer exam, PSSSB Group-B recruitment, and other joint examinations, where widespread cheating and fake names appeared on merit lists.

CM Bhagwant Mann's Assurance

#WATCH | Mohali: Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann says, "It has been 4.5 years since the government was formed. Not a single paper has leaked in Punjab. We had received reports of cheating from two places. They were scanning the papers digitally with a Bluetooth pen and sending them… pic.twitter.com/neCI3O9hCA
— Media Channel

In response to the BJP's accusations, the AAP labeled them as fake news. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reiterated that there has not been a single incident of paper leakage in Punjab over the past four and a half years. He assured the public, stating, "I guarantee that there will be no paper leak in Punjab. While there were attempts to cheat in two instances during exams, we took strict action within just 10 minutes and exposed the cheating rings. No exam paper has leaked in Punjab."