2 weeks ago
Pradhan Next Odisha CM? Congress Fret After Datia Win
Lots of interesting things are happening in Indian politics.
A minister named Dharmendra Pradhan left his government job because students were upset about leaked exam papers.
Now many people are guessing that he might become the leader, called chief minister, of the state of Odisha.
He went back to Odisha and crowds welcomed him warmly, which made people think even more that he might get the job.
In the capital, another leader named Amit Shah wanted Parliament to talk about the student protests, but the Congress party said no and asked him to quit instead.
In another state, Madhya Pradesh, the Congress party won an important election in a town called Datia.
That win makes a younger Congress leader, Jitu Patwari, look very good.
Two older leaders, Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh, are worried because they want their sons to become big leaders too.
The story is really about how political parties choose their leaders and what happens after elections.
Former Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from the Cabinet amid student protests over NEET exam paper leaks and is now the subject of speculation that he will become Odisha's next chief minister.
After returning to Odisha, Pradhan received a warm welcome on a road trip to his Sambalpur constituency and plans an extensive state tour, fuelling leadership chatter.
Union home minister Amit Shah offered to respond to a debate on the NEET protests a day before the Monsoon Session ended; the Congress-led opposition rejected the offer and demanded his resignation.
Congress defeated the ruling BJP in the Datia by-election in Madhya Pradesh — its first Assembly bypoll win in the state since Jitu Patwari became party president.
The Datia win raises Jitu Patwari's profile, worrying senior Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh, who are keen to promote their sons.
- Who
- Dharmendra Pradhan, Union home minister Amit Shah, Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Congress leaders Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh and Jitu Patwari
- What
- Speculation that Pradhan will become Odisha chief minister, rejection of a NEET protest debate offer, and Congress's Datia by-election win in Madhya Pradesh
- Where
- India — Odisha and Sambalpur, New Delhi's Jantar Mantar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh's Datia, and Karnataka
- When
- In recent weeks, after Pradhan's Cabinet resignation and as Parliament's Monsoon Session came to a close
- Why
- Leadership ambitions, fallout from the NEET exam paper leak protests, and the political impact of by-election results on party dynamics
Opposition parties and political critics
BJP-led government and party leadership
NEET protest debate
Opposition parties and political critics
Rejected Amit Shah's belated debate offer as a trap and demanded his resignation over the July 20 police action against Jantar Mantar student protesters.
BJP-led government and party leadership
Amit Shah was ready to respond to the debate; his belated readiness was linked to Jharkhand student protests, which observers say would have put the Congress in the dock.
Pradhan as next Odisha chief minister
Opposition parties and political critics
Political circles speculate that Pradhan's popularity is intact and that the BJP's top leadership will rehabilitate him as Odisha chief minister soon.
BJP-led government and party leadership
Two years ago the BJP preferred a tribal leader, Mohan Charan Majhi, denying Pradhan the post, and Majhi remains the sitting chief minister.
Party over-centralisation
Opposition parties and political critics
The Bharatiya Janata Party is accused of over-centralisation: its Parliamentary board is barely consulted and chief ministers seek leadership approval for major policies and appointments.
BJP-led government and party leadership
Both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Congress run a 'high command' culture, as seen when Congress's new Karnataka ministers were announced by K.C. Venugopal.
Key facts
- CM Speculation Target
- Dharmendra Pradhan tipped to replace Mohan Charan Majhi as Odisha chief minister
- Resignation Context
- Stepped down from Union Cabinet amid student protests over NEET exam paper leaks
- NEET Debate Offer
- Amit Shah offered to respond a day before the Monsoon Session ended; Congress rejected it and demanded his resignation
- Jantar Mantar Police Action
- Police action against student protesters on July 20 in New Delhi
- Datia By-Election
- Congress defeated the ruling BJP — first Madhya Pradesh Assembly bypoll win under Jitu Patwari
- Jharkhand Protests
- Student protesters lathi-charged by local police; the state is run by the JMM-Congress coalition
- Karnataka Cabinet Expansion
- New ministers list was released by K.C. Venugopal rather than the chief minister
- Congress Sons in Politics
- Jaivardhan Singh is a Madhya Pradesh Assembly member; Nakul Nath won Chhindwara in 2019 but lost the 2024 Lok Sabha election










