"Don't Bother, I Won't Delete": Odisha BJP MP's Daughter on Posts About Dharmendra Pradhan’s Resignation

A series of fiery social media posts by Archita Sachin Rahar, daughter of Bhubaneswar BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, has triggered intense embarrassment for the ruling party in Odisha. Rahar publicly welcomed the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET examination leak fiasco, firmly refusing to take down her comments despite alleged pressure from Pradhan’s office.

The defiant posts surfaced at a time when senior state BJP leaders, including Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and MP Aparajita Sarangi herself, were publicly extending solidarity and praising Pradhan for owning moral responsibility amidst nationwide student demonstrations.

Defiant Instagram Posts Expose Internal Rift

The controversy erupted after Rahar shared an Instagram story featuring a photograph of Dharmendra Pradhan against the national flag, captioned: "Dharmendra Pradhan resigns amid massive student protests over NEET leak fiasco." The post was widely interpreted as an endorsement of the ongoing student agitation led by groups like the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP).

Anticipating pushback, Rahar followed up with a direct, uncompromising statement aimed at Pradhan’s personal staff:

"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."

Reports indicate that Pradhan’s office had indeed reached out to MP Aparajita Sarangi requesting the removal of the story. However, Rahar stood her ground, stating online that while her family might align politically with Pradhan, she personally stands with the struggling students.

Party Rank And File Vent Ire As MP Mother Steps In To Contain Fallout

The public commentary by an insider's family member drew swift condemnation from local BJP workers and leaders across Odisha, who termed the remarks disrespectful to a senior leader from the state. Jagannath Pradhan, a local BJP leader from Bhubaneswar, publicly expressed disappointment, highlighting that Pradhan is a prominent leader whose resignation had hurt party loyalists.

Seeking to diffuse the growing political damage, MP Aparajita Sarangi took to X (formerly Twitter) to reiterate her unwavering support for her Cabinet colleague:

• Moral Responsibility: Sarangi praised Pradhan, stating that resigning after owning moral responsibility "calls for a lot of courage."
• Public Solidarity: The Bhubaneswar MP stated she stands firmly by him during this difficult period and wished him well, invoking the blessings of Lord Jagannath.

Addressing the controversy on behalf of the MP's office, assistant Dhaneswar Barik acknowledged that Rahar represents a younger generation entitled to express independent views, noting that "she has the right to speak her mind." Nevertheless, the episode has laid bare stark generational and ideological friction within key political families as the fallout from the NEET controversy continues to reverberate nationwide.