From one paper leak protest to another: Full circle for Dharmendra Pradhan
Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned from his position, marking a significant shift in a political career that spanned from grassroots student activism to high-level cabinet roles. The article traces his rise through the BJP, highlighting his role in key election victories and policy initiatives like the Ujjwala scheme.
Why it matters
Pradhan's career trajectory reflects the internal dynamics of the BJP and the evolution of political leadership in India over the last three decades.
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation Saturday marks an unusual stumble in a political career that appeared to be headed towards more important destinations.The architect of BJP's maiden victory in Odisha and facilitator of a series of wins elsewhere was first catapulted into the limelight while leading an ABVP-backed agitation in 1996 against an alleged Class XII question paper leak in Od-isha, during which he was injured in a police lathicharge.Four years later, he won the Pallahara assembly seat on a BJP ticket. He became president of BJP's youth wing, BJYM, in Odisha in 2001 and was elevated as party national secretary in 2002. In 2004, he was appointed BJYM national president.It was also the year he first entered Lok Sabha from Deogarh, when BJP and BJD were allies.
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