Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday renewed his demand to scrap NEET entirely, saying the Union government must respect the sentiments of students and their families and that abolition of the exam is “the only solution” to the issue.

He also extended support to Opposition leaders protesting in solidarity with students over the alleged NEET paper leak, while sharply criticising the detention of Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, in Delhi.

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A constitutional kettle begins to simmer

Vijay said the Centre should take seriously the anger and anxiety surrounding NEET in Tamil Nadu, where the exam has remained a politically and emotionally charged issue for years.

He said the Union government “must respect the sentiments of people and students on the NEET issue and scrap it altogether”, describing that as the only solution. He said the TVK’s position on abolishing NEET was “uncompromising”.

He suggested a broader constitutional change, arguing that if exams like NEET are to be abolished, education should first be moved to the State List of the Constitution.

Vijay said a special concurrent list could be used in the interim to give state governments full powers over education, including medical education.

Has the political storm only just begun?

Vijay’s comments came amid a protest by several Opposition leaders outside Parliament, where they wore black clothes to express solidarity with students protesting the NEET issue.

Vijay had earlier written on X that the arrest of several leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, who supported youth protesting against irregularities in the NEET examination, was “undemocratic”.

The issue remains politically significant in Tamil Nadu, where opposition to NEET has long been tied to concerns over student pressure, access to medical education and state autonomy.

Vijay’s latest remarks also appeared to sharpen his criticism of rival parties. He accused opponents of making false promises for “vote politics”.

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FAQs

Q1: Why is Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay demanding that NEET be scrapped?

Vijay said scrapping NEET is the only solution and urged the Centre to respect the sentiments of students and the people of Tamil Nadu.

Q2: Why did Vijay criticise Rahul Gandhi’s detention?

Vijay called Rahul Gandhi’s detention during a protest over the NEET issue “anti-democratic” and condemned the police action.