Dharmendra Pradhan takes oath as Union minister in Modi govt 3.0: The man who fashioned BJP’s Odisha victory

NEW DELHI: Known for his strong rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dharmendra Pradhan is widely regarded as the party’s most influential leader in Odisha. His efforts have been instrumental in the BJP’s electoral triumphs in both the assembly and Lok Sabha polls.

A two-time Rajya Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh (2018-2022) and Bihar (2012-2018), Dharmendra was elected to the assembly from Pallahara in 2000 and to Lok Sabha from Deogarh in 2004. In both the elections, BJP and BJD were coalition partners. After the alliance between BJD-BJP collapsed, Dharmendra lost the assembly election from Pallahara in 2009.

Dharmendra’s political journey started as an ABVP activist in 1983. He was later its secretary. He has also served as BJP’s election in-charge in Bihar and in-charge of party affairs of Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand.

Initially inducted as a minister of state with independent charge in Modi’s first term, Dharmendra was later promoted to the cabinet and given additional charge of skill development in Sept 2017. At the helm of the oil ministry — he held the post for more than seven years — Dharmendra was credited with implementing several progressive reforms and initiatives, including the Ujjwala Scheme.

Apart from petroleum, Dharmendra had got additional charge of the steel ministry in Modi’s second term. After the reshuffle, he was shifted to the crucial education ministry in July 2021 and successfully implemented the new education policy.

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