Dharmendra Pradhan’s Resignation Sparks Accountability Demands for Punjab Ministers Over Paper Leaks

The resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET scandal has intensified pressure on the Punjab government. Opposition parties are now demanding that state ministers Harjot Singh Bains and Balbir Singh step down following multiple examination irregularities in Punjab.

RMN News Punjab Desk
New Delhi | July 26, 2026

The recent resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister, following the NEET paper leak controversy, has initiated a fresh political confrontation within Punjab. Opposition parties—including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Indian National Congress, and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)—are citing Pradhan’s exit as a precedent for establishing ministerial accountability.

They are calling for the immediate resignation of Punjab’s Education Minister, Harjot Singh Bains, and Health Minister, Balbir Singh, due to alleged paper leaks and examination irregularities across the state.

  The precedent set by Dharmendra Pradhan’s exit has turned the spotlight on Punjab’s own examination scandals, fueling intense calls for ministerial accountability.

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring characterized Pradhan’s resignation as a victory for student protesters. Warring demanded that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Minister Bains accept responsibility for leaks involving recruitment tests and the Class 12 English examination during the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s tenure. He specifically invoked previous public stances by senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia, who once argued that ministers should resign if examination papers are compromised.

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Echoing these demands, BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa questioned the consistency of AAP leaders who supported national NEET protests while remaining silent on similar issues in Punjab. Concurrently, SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal accused the Mann administration of failing to protect the integrity of the state’s examination system.

  With assembly polls approaching, the political row over paper leaks creates a critical flashpoint between the AAP government and a united opposition front.

In response, AAP leadership maintained that the government has consistently investigated irregularities and taken action against officials whenever wrongdoing was established. The party has emphasized that strengthening recruitment security and tightening examination protocols remain top priorities. As Punjab prepares for next year’s Assembly polls, the handling of these allegations is expected to remain a significant political flashpoint.