Taking to X, the Indian National Congress reiterated its call for Pradhan’s resignation. “The entire responsibility for the irregularities in CBSE lies with the Ministry of Education, and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is accountable for this,” the party wrote, adding that Dharmendra Pradhan had “no right to remain in his position”.

“The contract to a corrupt company like COEMPT was awarded under the oversight of Dharmendra Pradhan and the Modi government. The Modi government cannot escape its accountability through these petty actions. Dharmendra Pradhan has no right to remain in his position. Narendra Modi should stop protecting him and dismiss him immediately,” the INC added. The company and CBSE have denied any corruption, though a probe has now been ordered by the Centre.

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Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also stated that the government’s actions to transfer the CBSE officials show that irregularities were committed.

“Today’s action, clearly timed for after the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education’s meeting with the CBSE Board, is an attempt to distract and fix accountability on bureaucrats rather than the political leadership. It should be remembered that CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh had been given a two-year extension by the Cabinet Committee on Appointments as recently as November 2025,” Ramesh wrote on X.

Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi party (AAP), also called for stricter action, accusing the Modi government of “protecting the officials.”

“What? CBSE Chairman and Secretary transferred? Bas? Is that govt’s response to such a huge scandal? Is that a punishment or protection?,” he wrote on X.