Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday, 25 July 2026, sharply attacked the BJP-led Union Government, declaring that the resignation of the Education Minister alone cannot fix India's education crisis and calling for the removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to protect both education and democracy.

Context

Responding to the Education Minister's resignation, Siddaramaiah posted on X that 'the departure of one disciple will change nothing' as long as what he described as 'the masters of authoritarianism and misrule remain in power.' He directly named Prime Minister Modi, accusing him of having 'commercialised everything from politics to education.'

The Karnataka Chief Minister urged students and youth to 'continue their struggle until this incompetent and corrupt Union Government is uprooted,' and affirmed that the Indian National Congress would 'always stand with the people in the fight to protect democracy and the Constitution.'

Policy Backdrop

The attack comes against the backdrop of sustained opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Union government's landmark framework that replaced the 1986 education policy and sought to restructure school and higher education with an emphasis on standardisation and skills development.

Karnataka and other opposition-ruled states have repeatedly clashed with the BJP-led Centre over NEP implementation, education funding, and what Congress leaders characterise as ideological overreach in curricula. Siddaramaiah's post fits a consistent pattern of Congress positioning — linking specific education grievances to broader accusations of democratic erosion and federal overreach since 2014.

Stakeholders and Impact

Students and youth are the central constituency invoked in the post, with Siddaramaiah explicitly directing his message at them and framing their ongoing protests as a legitimate democratic struggle. The Congress's public alignment with student movements signals an intent to build a coalition beyond conventional electoral politics.

The resignation of the Education Minister, regardless of its circumstances, has provided the opposition with a fresh opening to question the Union government's stewardship of education policy at the national level. Congress appears to be using this moment to consolidate its narrative ahead of potential parliamentary debates on education funding and NEP amendments.

What's Next

Political observers will watch whether other opposition parties and student organisations issue coordinated responses amplifying Siddaramaiah's call. Any parliamentary debate on the education budget or proposed NEP amendments is likely to become a flashpoint for this renewed confrontation between Karnataka, the wider Congress bloc, and the Union Government.

For Siddaramaiah, the statement also reinforces his stature as one of Congress's most vocal voices against the Centre — a role that carries weight both in Bengaluru and in the national opposition calculus as the party positions itself as the defender of constitutional values and public education.