Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) on Tuesday announced his demand for scrapping NEET, saying the exam should be scrapped completely.
The party also demanded greater powers for states over medical education, insisting that education should be transferred from the concurrent list to the state constitution list. The statement came amid student protests against the NEET exam in Delhi and renewed political controversy over the entrance exam.
TVK said its “firm and consistent position” is that the national-level entrance test for medical aspirants should be abolished completely.
Also Read: NEET 2026 Protest Timeline: From Exam Day to Parliament March, Lathi Charge and PM Modi’s Statement
TVK reiterates the demand for scrapping NEET
The party called for structural reforms in the education sector and said states should have full authority over matters related to education, including medical education. If an immediate transfer of powers is not legally possible, I have proposed an interim arrangement.
“If there are any legal or procedural obstacles to doing so, a special joint list should be created as an interim measure until it is resolved to give powers to state governments.”
The party said such a move would ensure that state governments have full control over education policy, including medical education.
“This is our vision for a permanent and temporary solution. Our victorious leader (Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay) has already emphasized this,” the party said.
This came in a statement issued by the party, according to what the agency reported.
Also Read: Congress, allies take NEET protest to PM’s doorstep; Rahul Gandhi arrested: Modi will not be able to escape
TVK targets DMK via NEET promise
Without naming the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), TVK accused its political rival of misleading voters on the NEET issue. The party said it would not follow what it described as deceptive electoral politics.
You will never indulge in the ‘fraudulent politics’ of cheating people to get their votes by making false promises to ‘get rid of NEET ourselves’.
The criticism appears to be aimed at the DMK’s promise ahead of the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections to scrap NEET after assuming office.
TVK emphasized that its position is based on securing the constitutional powers of the states rather than making promises that cannot be implemented.
Also read: Stalin’s DMK and Vijay’s TVK unite against delimitation, vow to oppose the bill
The party responds to the criticism
The statement also responded to critics, whom it accused of appropriating the efforts and ideas of others for political gain.
Those who indulge in the unethical politics of “putting their own names” on others’ hard work, ideas and struggles should immediately stop targeting TVK, the party said.
The remarks came in the backdrop of opposition leader Udhyanidhi Stalin’s criticism over the government’s handling of ‘Therukkural’ rapper Arivu, who has been vocal in opposing NEET.
Before being escorted away by police, Arivu briefly raised anti-NEET slogans outside the Tamil Nadu state secretariat at Fort St George in Chennai.
The renewed political exchanges underscore that the NEET issue remains a major point of contention in Tamil Nadu, with parties offering routes for medical admission and distribution of powers between the Center and states.
