Bhubaneswar, July 28: Senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan received a rousing welcome at the Bhubaneswar Airport on Tuesday as he arrived in Bhubaneswar for the first time since announcing resignation as the Union Education Minister.As Pradhan stepped out of the airport, several BJP Ministers, MLAs and leaders circled him and raised “Dharmendra Pradhan zindabad” slogans, signalling a strong show of solidarity with the former Education Minister who resigned three days ago amid nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak.The development came three days after Pradhan stepped down from the post of Education Minister amid massive calls for his resignation over the NEET-UG paper leak.Party colleagues greeted him with flower bouquets and uttariyas in a show of solidarity.According sources, Pradhan will unveil a biography based on the life and work of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati in Bhubaneswar. The programme is being organised by Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati Smriti Nyas at the Railway Auditorium.In a post on ‘X’ announcing his resignation, Pradhan on July 25 said his decision was aimed at safeguarding students’ future and preventing what he described as “anti-national forces” from exploiting the nationwide agitation over the paper leak.However, several BJP MPs later hailed him as a big education reformer and highlighted his contributions during his tenure in the Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Dharmendra Pradhan gets hero’s welcome in Odisha
