In Indian politics, the spectacle often eclipses the substance. The aftermath of Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as Union education minister vividly illustrates this. Rather than a moment of genuine accountability for the glaring failures under his tenure—exemplified by the NEET paper leak scandal—the event was transformed into a choreographed exercise in political image management.

Across the country, while outrage simmered over an exam scandal that jeopardised the futures of lakhs of students, top BJP leaders converged on Pradhan’s residence. Instead of criticism, he received accolades as a visionary reformer and a moral exemplar. The nation appeared to witness a victory parade, not the departure of a minister whose ministry was embroiled in crisis.

This raises a fundamental question. If the resignation signalled acceptance of moral responsibility for systemic failure, how does one reconcile this with the simultaneous........

© National Herald