Bhubaneswar, July 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The return of senior BJP leader and former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to Odisha on Tuesday sparked a fresh political confrontation, with the BJP celebrating his arrival while the Opposition questioned the timing and significance of the grand reception.
Hundreds of BJP workers gathered at the Bhubaneswar airport to welcome Pradhan, raising slogans and carrying placards in his support. Several ministers in the Odisha government, MLAs and senior BJP leaders also joined the reception.
Former Odisha BJP president Samir Mohanty described Pradhan as a leader who has brought pride to the state through his contributions to both the party organisation and governance.
Calling him “a son of Odisha,” Mohanty said Pradhan’s organisational abilities and leadership would continue to inspire future generations.
The welcome, however, drew sharp criticism from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress.
BJD spokesperson Dr Lenin Mohanty alleged that Pradhan’s resignation as Union Education Minister followed nationwide protests over the NEET examination paper leak controversy. He claimed the reception was an attempt to divert attention from what the party described as failures in handling examination-related issues.
Mohanty further alleged repeated incidents of examination paper leaks over the past several years, including the NEET controversy, and claimed that similar incidents had also occurred in Odisha since the BJP assumed office in the state. He said the issue had triggered widespread public anger and student protests.
According to the BJD leader, the large-scale welcome programme was intended to rebuild Pradhan’s public image following the controversy.
The Congress also questioned the BJP’s celebrations. Senior Congress leader Rama Chandra Kadam said that if Pradhan had resigned on moral grounds over examination paper leak issues, organising such an elaborate public reception sent a contradictory message.
The exchange of statements underscores the continuing political fallout surrounding the NEET controversy, with both the BJP and Opposition seeking to shape the public narrative in Odisha.
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