Uddhav and Raj Thackeray Lead Victory March After Minister Resigns

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on Saturday, taking responsibility for the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy. His departure followed weeks of nationwide student protests, including a prolonged camp at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and activist Sonam Wangchuk. While the CJP withdrew its agitation upon the resignation, violence erupted at Sansad Marg shortly before the announcement, with protesters clashing with police and media personnel.

On Sunday, July 26, Uddhav Thackeray, chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), and Raj Thackeray, president of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), organized a joint victory rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. The procession moved from Vasant Desai Chowk to the Siddhivinayak Temple, drawing thousands of youth and supporters. During the event, Raj Thackeray led a one-minute silence to honor students who died by suicide following the examination irregularities, characterizing the protests as a victory for Gen Z.

Uddhav Thackeray used the rally to criticize Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, accusing the central government of prioritizing the splitting of political parties over national welfare. Other leaders, including Aaditya Thackeray and members of the Nationalist Congress Party (SP), joined the march to celebrate the movement as a lesson in governmental accountability. In the wake of the resignation, BJP leader Pralhad Joshi was given additional charge of the Education Ministry.