Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday claimed that newly appointed Union education minister Pralhad Joshi’s is only ‘interim’ minister. He alleged that the Centre is searching for a permanent replacement and suggested that Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis could eventually be given the portfolio.Addressing a press conference, Raut said Joshi was better suited to his previous responsibilities and described his current role as interim. “Pralhad Joshi is currently the interim Education Minister. At best, he might make a good Coal Minister. I believe this is a temporary arrangement, and the government is actively searching for a permanent Education Minister,” he said.Raut claimed that Fadnavis, because of his educational background and ideological alignment with the RSS, could emerge as the Centre’s preferred choice.

“To my knowledge, Devendra Fadnavis could be the country’s best Education Minister. Modi ji has also made up his mind about this. He is aligned with RSS ideology, is well educated and has experience in running a state,” he said.However, he added that the decision was being held up because of uncertainty over who would replace Fadnavis as Maharashtra chief minister if he were moved to the Union Cabinet.‘Modi govt had to bow down’Raut also launched a fresh attack on the Centre over the student agitation at Jantar Mantar, alleging that police excesses were committed against protesters and holding Union home minister Amit Shah responsible. He further claimed that the Modi government was forced to accept the protesters’ demands only after sustained pressure from the youth movement.“The Modi government had to bow down to the power of the youth and accept their demands. Governments should remain humble before the people, but humility and restraint have disappeared from the BJP’s vocabulary,” he said.His remarks come a day after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union education minister amid the nationwide agitation over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, following which Pralhad Joshi was given additional charge of the education ministry.