Bhubaneswar: Former Union Education Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan received a warm and enthusiastic welcome upon his arrival at Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, marking his first visit to Odisha since resigning from the Union Cabinet amid the NEET-UG paper leak controversy.
A day after being given a hero’s welcome by party colleagues in Parliament, Dharmendra was greeted by a large gathering of BJP leaders, state ministers, MLAs, party workers, youth, and student supporters.
Reports indicate that at least five state ministers, 21 sitting MLAs, two former MLAs, and several key organisational figures turned up to receive him, filling the airport premises with political slogans and cheers.
Dharmendra had stepped down as Education Minister on July 25, taking moral responsibility for the irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination held on May 3. The decision came after weeks of nationwide student protests, including those led by groups at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, amid demands for accountability over the alleged paper leak.
In his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and an open message to students, the former Union Minister expressed pain over the developments and emphasised protecting students’ futures from prolonged political and legal battles.
Speaking to the media, Baragada MLA Ashwini Kumar Sarangi said: “Today is a moment of great joy for all of us. Our leader, Sambalpur MP and former Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, has returned to his motherland, and party workers from across the state have assembled here to extend their full support.”
The legislator highlighted Dharmendra’s dedicated service in the Narendra Modi-led central government, managing major portfolios with utmost efficiency. He noted that Prime Minister Modi himself has recognised his contributions, referring to him as an “Odisha Ratna” (Gem of Odisha). “Having risen through the ranks of student politics, he understands student organisations deeply across the country. His primary objective is to safeguard students and ensure that anti-social or anti-national elements are not allowed to harm the interests of the youth or the country. The entire Odisha BJP team and its elected representatives stand firmly with Dharmendra Pradhan. We pray to Lord Jagannath for his bright future and continued leadership in the service of the state and the nation,” he remarked.
BJP MLA Pratap Chandra Pradhan, added: “Every person in Odisha holds Dharmendra Pradhan in high regard. He is widely respected. Much of the development here has been carried out under his leadership. During Prime Minister Modi’s tenure, he has done significant work in the field of education, and that is evident to everyone. The Opposition may claim that they forced his resignation, but Dharmendra Pradhan is a man of development.”
Following the airport welcome, Dharmendra proceeded to his official residence in Bhubaneswar under tight security, with enthusiastic crowds lining the route.
