A viral social media post from Archita Sachin Rahar, daughter of BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, allegedly regarding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as the Union Education Minister has sparked resentment in the party.
According to reports, Rahar, in a post on Instagram that had a photograph of Pradhan in the backdrop of the national flag, wrote, “Dharmendra Pradhan resigns amid massive student protests over NEET leak fiasco.”
Pradhan resigned on Saturday, July 25, in the wake of the students’ protest at the Jantar Mantar in the national capital over paper leaks.
In another social media post, Rahar wrote that she would not remove her previous post. Some time later, her account on Instagram was reportedly deactivated.
“Also, to DP’s PA who is sure to text my mother asking me to delete my previous story (it has happened before) — Don’t bother. I won’t delete. Jai Jagannath! Jai Hind,” she wrote.
On the other hand, several Odisha BJP leaders, including her mother, expressed sympathy to Pradhan.
In a post on X, Aparajita Sarangi on Saturday night wrote, “Sri @dpradhanbjp ji has tendered his resignation today. Resigning after owning moral responsibility calls for a lot of courage. I stand by him in this very difficult time. I wish for him the best for the days to come. May Lord Jagannath shower HIS Blessings upon him.”
Sri @dpradhanbjp ji has tendered his resignation today.
Resigning after owning moral responsibility calls for a lot of courage.
I stand by him in this very difficult time.
I wish for him the best for the days to come.
May Lord Jagannath shower HIS Blessings upon him.— Aparajita Sarangi, MP,( Lok Sabha) Bhubaneswar (@AprajitaSarangi) July 25, 2026
Talking about the matter, the MP’s office assistant Dhaneswar Barik told PTI, “Everyone has the right to express their views. Her daughter, who is from Gen Z, said she stands by her statement. She has the right to speak her mind”.
On being asked whether Rahar’s social media post had put her mother in trouble, Barik added, “Only time will tell.”
BJP leaders from Odisha were quick to criticise Rahar over her post.
Jagannath Pradhan, who unsuccessfully contested the 2024 Assembly polls from Bhubaneswar Central seat on a BJP ticket, said, “Pradhan is son of the soil. His resignation has hurt us. Odias have welcomed the daughter of Bihar (Aparajita) and made her MP twice.”
“Sarangi should have control over her family members. She should tender an apology to Odisha for her daughter making adverse remarks against Pradhan. As an educated person, the MP’s daughter should not make such statements against Pradhan, who had immense contributions to Odisha and India,” he added.