Who doesn’t like a humble origins story: An underdog, making it big in politics or cinema or IT, wins everyone’s hearts in India.
But only if it’s true.
And India’s newly minted Petroleum Minister found this out quickly when he claimed to be an ‘ordinary man’ on Twitter.
This is the beauty & strength of our democracy that an ordinary person like me has been given such huge responsibility.
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) September 3, 2017
In the recent cabinet reshuffle, Pradhan was elevated from MoS (Independent Charge) rank to Cabinet rank in the Petroleum Ministry.
Dharmendra Pradhan’s tweet, claiming he got the cabinet seat despite being ‘ordinary’, was quickly picked apart by Twitter, because - surprise, surprise - Dharmendra is the son of a former Union Minister of State, Debendra Pradhan.
Debendra Pradhan served as Union Minister of State, Surface Transport between 1998-99 in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. He also served as the Union Minister of State, Agriculture, Odisha.
You are https://t.co/XLprHDKgoU are the son of an ex minister n 3 times MP.without ur father u wud hv no identity today in politics
— Biswajit pattnaik (@PtnaikBiswajit) September 3, 2017
So ordinary that he doesn't even remember his father Shri Debendra Pradhan, Cabinet Minister, Vajpayee Govt. https://t.co/ZumFau8jxO
— Rofl Gandhi (@RoflGandhi_) September 4, 2017
So U wanna say, U aren't son of d ex-minister Debendra Pradhan, & also that U were selected 2 get elected 4m RS bcoz of Ur ordinary status? https://t.co/tlAIyUWRB2
— Idiocracy Watch (@nasrulhoda73) September 4, 2017
Hope you remember Mr. Debendra Pradhan sir? He used to be a MoS in the Vajpayee Govt.
— Mritunjay (@krmritunjay) September 4, 2017
Koi nahni. his father's name is Debendra Pradhan..he was also minister in vajpayee govt
— ସୌମ୍ୟ (Soumya) (@NanaBaiya) September 3, 2017
Dharmendra Pradhan is a Rajya Sabha MP from Bihar. He started his political career as a member of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) was later elected as President of Talcher College Students' Union in 1985.