The resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following the NEET paper leak controversy has triggered sharp political reactions in Chhattisgarh, with leaders across party lines offering contrasting views on the development.

Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel described the resignation as a victory for students and youth across the country. In a post on X, Baghel said the decision reflected the success of sustained protests demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination process.

Taking a swipe at the Centre, Baghel compared the Modi government to "Hiranyakashyap" from Hindu mythology and described the country's Gen-Z students as the "Narasimha avatar" that forced the government to act. He said the resignation represented a defeat for the Union government and a victory for students seeking justice.

Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker and former Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh also backed the resignation, though from a different perspective. He said the decision was necessary to calm the nationwide agitation surrounding the examination controversy.

"The issue had become a matter of national concern. Bringing it to a conclusion was important," Raman Singh said, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had already indicated that stricter laws would be introduced to curb examination-related malpractices.

However, the BJP's stand within the state government appeared divided. Chhattisgarh School Education Minister Gajendra Yadav expressed support for Dharmendra Pradhan and argued that the minister should not have resigned.

Yadav said that a large ministry functions through thousands of officials and employees, making it unfair to hold the minister directly responsible for every administrative lapse. He urged Pradhan to withdraw his resignation in the national interest, noting that the Centre had already constituted an inquiry committee and established fast-track courts to investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, celebrations broke out among student organisations in several parts of the state. In Bilaspur, students and youth groups organised a "Victory Rally," raising slogans in support of student unity and demanding the dissolution of the National Testing Agency (NTA). Protesters maintained that while the minister's resignation marked an important milestone, their larger campaign for examination reforms and institutional accountability would continue.

Congress workers in Raipur also took out a victory procession, calling the resignation a result of sustained public pressure over the alleged paper leak.

The resignation marks a significant political development, as Dharmendra Pradhan has become the first Union minister in the Narendra Modi government since 2014 to step down following sustained public protests. Earlier, in 2018, then Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar resigned amid allegations during the global #MeToo movement, though the circumstances were unrelated to government policy.

The NEET controversy has also renewed attention on India's anti-paper leak framework. In June 2024, the Centre implemented the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act to tackle examination fraud. The law makes offences such as paper leaks, organised cheating, unauthorised access to examination materials and related offences non-bailable, with punishments ranging from three to ten years' imprisonment and heavy financial penalties, depending on the nature of the offence.

Despite the new legislation, opposition parties and student organisations have continued to demand broader reforms to restore confidence in the country's examination system.