Senior BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya on Saturday claimed that Dharmendra Pradhan had offered to resign on the very first day of the student protests that later escalated into a nationwide flashpoint over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak.

His comments came a day after Pradhan stepped down as Union education minister following weeks of demonstrations.

Vijayvargiya made the remarks in Indore and said he had known Pradhan since their student politics days.

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An offer that never left the room

According to Vijayvargiya, Pradhan had told the BJP leadership at the outset of the agitation that he was willing to resign if the party believed it was necessary.

He said the BJP president did not accept the offer at that stage and told Pradhan not to submit his resignation or speak about the issue publicly.

“On the first day, as soon as the student agitation began, Pradhan had told the BJP president that if he felt it was necessary, he was ready to resign as education minister,” Vijayvargiya said.

Duty before debate, so the tale goes

Vijayvargiya also said the resignation later came swiftly once the party decided Pradhan should step down.

He described that response as evidence of discipline and loyalty within the party, adding that Pradhan had carried out every responsibility entrusted to him “with honesty and dedication.”

Vijayvargiya said Pradhan told the party chief, “If you feel that I should resign, I would,” and that he resigned “in a split second” once the party took the call.

More than a resignation, says Vijayvargiya

The BJP leader also used the occasion to defend Pradhan’s conduct during the controversy.

Vijayvargiya claimed that the resignation had “foiled the designs” of foreign forces seeking to destabilize India and said he was congratulating Pradhan for what he had done.

He further alleged that the opposition had tried to capitalize on the protests, while students themselves had launched the agitation.

A new steward takes the helm

Pradhan’s resignation has become one of the most closely watched political outcomes of the NEET-UG controversy. The education ministry is now in the hands of Pralhad Joshi.

Joshi took charge as education minister the day after Pradhan’s resignation, underscoring the speed with which the government moved to fill the vacancy.

Vijayvargiya’s claim about an earlier offer to quit adds a new layer to the political narrative around the crisis, but it remains his account of events, not a statement independently confirmed.

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FAQs

Q1: Did Dharmendra Pradhan offer to resign before stepping down?

According to BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya, Dharmendra Pradhan offered to resign on the first day of the student protests, but the party leadership did not accept it then.

Q2: Why did Kailash Vijayvargiya speak about Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation?

Vijayvargiya said Pradhan’s resignation reflected party discipline and claimed he stepped down immediately after the BJP leadership decided it was necessary.