Dharmendra Pradhan hits back at Naveen Patnaik over NEET row, vows to serve Odisha
Synopsis
Dharmendra Pradhan publicly confronted Naveen Patnaik in Redhakhol, calling out the BJD chief for branding him 'badmas' and orchestrating a 'Go Back' campaign. With 21 student deaths linked to the NEET paper leak hanging over him, Pradhan chose defiance over retreat — a high-stakes gamble in a state the BJP only recently wrested from the BJD after two decades.
Key Takeaways
Dharmendra Pradhan addressed a public gathering in Redhakhol, Sambalpur on 8 August , hitting back at Naveen Patnaik over alleged personal attacks.
Patnaik had reportedly called Pradhan a 'badmas' and directed BJD workers to run a 'Go Back' campaign against him.
Pradhan cited 12 years of Union ministerial service and invoked Lord Jagannath and Maa Samaleshwari , pledging never to harm Odisha's honour.
The row stems from the NEET question paper leak , over which Patnaik had earlier demanded Pradhan's resignation and mobilised BJD MPs in Parliament.
BJD leader Rohit Pujari alleged that the BJP's police action against student protesters at Jantar Mantar and 21 student deaths linked to the NEET leak had brought disrepute to Pradhan.
The clash reflects the intensifying BJP-BJD rivalry in Odisha following the BJP's recent end to the BJD's two-decade rule in the state.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday, 8 August publicly rebuked Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik over what he described as personal attacks against him, while also pushing back against the BJD's sustained campaign to hold him accountable over the NEET question paper leak controversy.
Pradhan, who represents the Sambalpur constituency in Odisha, was addressing a public gathering in Redhakhol when he delivered the sharp rebuttal — notably in the presence of senior BJD leader Prasanna Acharya.
Pradhan's Rebuttal: 'I Am a Servant of Sambalpur'
Taking direct aim at Patnaik, Pradhan quoted the BJD chief's alleged characterisation of him as a 'badmas' (wicked) and described a coordinated campaign by BJD-linked figures calling for his departure from the state. 'The BJD supremo Naveen Babu is calling me a badmas. He has engaged two of my younger brothers and sisters who are saying 'Dharmendra Pradhan Go Back'. If they want to become big leaders by opposing me, let them. I am a servant of Sambalpur; even if you ask me to go back, I will come,' Pradhan said.
He told the crowd that in 12 years as a Union Minister, he had never brought disrepute to Odisha or its 4.5 crore people. Invoking the blessings of Lord Jagannath and Maa Samaleshwari, he pledged that he would never cause harm to the state's honour as long as he was alive.
The NEET Backdrop: Why Patnaik Targeted Pradhan
The confrontation is rooted in the nationwide controversy over the NEET undergraduate entrance examination paper leak, which triggered protests across India and led to calls for accountability at the Union level. Former Chief Minister Patnaik had earlier demanded Pradhan's resignation over the issue and directed BJD Members of Parliament to corner the ruling BJP in Parliament.
Patnaik subsequently extended the pressure campaign to the state level, using Pradhan's situation as a precedent to demand the resignation of Odisha's state Education Minister over textbook errors — a move that critics say was as much about political positioning as about accountability.
BJD Fires Back: 'He Brought Disrepute on Himself'
The BJD was quick to respond. Party leader Rohit Pujari rejected Pradhan's framing, saying no one needed to defame him because he had done so himself. Pujari alleged that the BJP's reported police action against students protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, and the deaths of 21 students linked to the NEET paper leak, had collectively brought disrepute to Pradhan — not any campaign by the BJD.
What This Signals for Odisha Politics
The exchange marks a notable escalation in the post-election rivalry between the BJP and the BJD in Odisha, where the BJP recently ended the BJD's two-decade hold on power. Pradhan, a senior figure in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet until recently, remains a key BJP face in the state. The NEET row has given the BJD — now in opposition — a potent national issue to press against the BJP's federal leadership, and Pradhan, as the former Education Minister, sits squarely in the crosshairs.
With both sides digging in, the political temperature in Odisha is unlikely to cool in the near term.
Point of View
And Pradhan, as the former Education Minister, cannot easily sidestep ownership. His invocation of Lord Jagannath and Maa Samaleshwari is a familiar template of Odia political sentiment, but sentiment alone will not neutralise the deaths of 21 students that Pujari has placed squarely at the BJP's door. The deeper question is whether the BJP can contain the NEET fallout at the federal level before it permanently colours Pradhan's standing in Odisha — a state the party cannot afford to lose credibility in so soon after winning it.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Dharmendra Pradhan target Naveen Patnaik at the Redhakhol event?
Pradhan responded to what he described as personal attacks by Patnaik, including being called a 'badmas' and facing a BJD-backed 'Go Back' campaign. He also pushed back against the BJD's sustained effort to hold him accountable for the NEET question paper leak controversy.
What is the NEET paper leak issue and how does it involve Pradhan?
The NEET undergraduate entrance exam paper leak triggered nationwide protests and calls for accountability at the Union level. As a senior BJP leader and former Union Minister, Pradhan was targeted by Patnaik, who demanded his resignation and directed BJD MPs to corner the BJP in Parliament over the issue.
How did the BJD respond to Pradhan's speech?
BJD leader Rohit Pujari rejected Pradhan's claims, saying Pradhan had brought disrepute upon himself. Pujari cited the BJP's alleged police action against student protesters at Jantar Mantar and the deaths of 21 students linked to the NEET leak as the real sources of that disrepute.
What did Pradhan say about his record in Odisha?
Pradhan said he had served as a Union Minister for 12 years without ever bringing shame to Odisha or its 4.5 crore people. He invoked the blessings of Lord Jagannath and Maa Samaleshwari and pledged to never harm the state's honour.
What is the broader political context of this BJP-BJD clash in Odisha?
The BJP recently ended the BJD's approximately two-decade grip on power in Odisha. The NEET row has given the newly-opposition BJD a national-level issue to press against the BJP's federal leadership, with Pradhan — a key BJP figure in the state — as the primary target.
