What Led to the Resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan? A Major Win for Student Activism!
Historic Victory for Student Movements
New Delhi: Leaders from the Left praised the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as a significant triumph for the student and youth movements, emphasizing that their fight will persist until all demands are fulfilled.
M A Baby, the general secretary of CPI(M), expressed his congratulations to students nationwide, labeling Pradhan's departure as a 'major victory' but noted that it is merely the initial step.
He insisted that the National Testing Agency (NTA) must be disbanded and called for the repeal of the controversial National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which he described as anti-student and commercial.
Congratulations to India’s students and youth on this major victory! @dpradhanbjp‘s resignation is only the first step. Now the @NTA_Exams has to be disbanded and the anti-student, commercial and communal NEP 2020 has to be rolled back as well.
Cases foisted on the protesters…
— M A Baby (@MABABYCPIM) July 25, 2026
Baby also called for the withdrawal of charges against protesters and demanded accountability for police officers who allegedly assaulted students during the protests.
He commended various student organizations, including the Students' Federation of India (SFI), and activists like Abhijeet Dipke and Sonam Wangchuk for their unwavering support despite facing threats.
The backing from celebrities across sports, arts, and culture was also acknowledged, highlighting the power of collective action.
D Raja, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), remarked that Pradhan's resignation was a result of persistent efforts, asserting that the student movement has challenged the BJP's arrogance and forced the Modi-Shah administration to confront its shortcomings.
Raja reiterated calls for the withdrawal of all FIRs against protesters, an unconditional apology from the government for police actions, and compensation for families affected by alleged exam irregularities.
He emphasized that the movement has brought to light serious issues such as repeated exam leaks, privatization, excessive centralization, and the deterioration of public education, vowing to continue the fight for a more accessible and quality public education system.
Dipankar Bhattacharya, general secretary of CPI(ML) Liberation, criticized Pradhan, stating that his resignation was the only reasonable action he had taken.
In a post on X, Bhattacharya remarked that Pradhan's resignation was a direct result of the demands from India's youth.
Pradhan stepped down from his position amid increasing pressure due to irregularities in various competitive examinations.
He expressed his distress over the recent events and submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.