Centre buckles under CJP-led NEET protests; Dharmendra Pradhan quits as Education Minister

His announcement came on social media platform X, where he confirmed submitting his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The resignation marks a key turning point in the month-long agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)—a student-led movement that originated as a satirical youth platform—alongside opposition parties. The development occurred just hours before the CJP was scheduled to enter a third round of talks with Central government representatives.

Earlier in the day, the CJP had declared that further dialogue with the Centre would be futile unless Pradhan stepped down, calling his removal a non-negotiable precondition. Following the announcement, celebratory crowds gathered at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, the central hub of the demonstrations. Similar protests have spread across major metropolitan cities, including Kolkata.

Reacting to the development, the CJP posted on X: "This is a victory for the students."

Political fallout and opposition reaction

Opposition leaders had sharply intensified pressure on the government in the days leading up to the resignation.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with protesting students, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi reiterated demands for Pradhan’s complete removal from the Cabinet, warning against any political manoeuvre to reassign him.

"Modi ji, your conspiracy to save your 'friend' by removing him from one ministry and seating him in another is not acceptable to the country's students and the people of India," Gandhi said.

"Dharmendra Pradhan is responsible for the collapse of the country's education system and the severe distress caused to countless students. Dharmendra Pradhan must leave the Cabinet entirely—this demand is non-negotiable."

SFI activists and supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) participated in a protest march in Kolkata on July 24, 2026, calling for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET paper leak and alleged exam irregularities, while condemning the alleged police action against protesters. Photos: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

The nationwide agitation has seen thousands of students camp out at Jantar Mantar for over a month. While the Centre initially refrained from direct engagement, escalating public pressure and expanding demonstrations across state capitals forced the government into negotiations with CJP representatives to break the deadlock.