Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Tagore blames AIADMK, BJP for Tamil Nadu's NEET crisis
In the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, there is a big test called NEET.
Students who want to become doctors have to pass this test.
Many years ago, Tamil Nadu did not have this test.
A leader named Manickam Tagore says the AIADMK party allowed this test to start in 2017.
He says thousands of students have suffered because of it.
Mr. Tagore says it is not fair for the AIADMK to blame his party, the Congress.
He says the test has become a business where coaching centers make money.
He also remembers a student named S. Anitha who died after struggling with the test.
Mr. Tagore promises that if Congress comes to power, states that do not want NEET will not have to use it.
He wants the other parties to make the same promise.
TNCC president Manickam Tagore accused AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami of hiding his party's 'historic betrayal' of Tamil Nadu students by blaming Congress for NEET.
Tagore said NEET was not implemented in Tamil Nadu during J. Jayalalithaa's lifetime and was allowed only in 2017 after Palaniswami assumed office.
Tagore claimed the AIADMK administration, not Congress, enabled NEET and shattered the medical aspirations of thousands of students.
He accused the BJP-led Union government of giving powers to the National Testing Agency and turning NEET into a commercial market dominated by coaching-centre mafias.
Tagore reiterated Rahul Gandhi's assurance that a Congress government would grant complete NEET exemption to any opposing state and challenged Palaniswami to secure the same commitment from the BJP.
- Who
- Manickam Tagore, president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, attacking AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and the BJP-led Union government.
- What
- Tagore accused the AIADMK and BJP of being responsible for introducing NEET in Tamil Nadu and for its negative consequences for students.
- When
- The exact date is not stated; Tagore posted on X following Minister Rajesh Kumar's explanation of the NEET issue in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
- Where
- Tamil Nadu, India, in the context of a debate in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
- Why
- To counter the AIADMK's reported blame of Congress and to hold the AIADMK and BJP accountable for NEET's impact on Tamil Nadu's students.
Congress (TNCC) position
AIADMK/BJP position
Who is responsible for NEET in Tamil Nadu
Congress (TNCC) position
Tagore says the AIADMK government under Palaniswami enabled NEET in 2017, and that it was not implemented while Jayalalithaa was alive, so the AIADMK cannot shift the blame to Congress.
AIADMK/BJP position
According to Tagore's account, the AIADMK is blaming Congress for the NEET situation, a claim he rejects as a bid to conceal the party's 'historic betrayal'.
Future of NEET and state exemption
Congress (TNCC) position
Tagore reiterated Rahul Gandhi's assurance that any state opposed to NEET would receive a complete exemption under a Congress government.
AIADMK/BJP position
Tagore alleges the BJP-led Union government continues to defend NEET despite its consequences, and he challenges the AIADMK to persuade its ally BJP to make an exemption commitment.
- Event
- TNCC chief attacks AIADMK and BJP over Tamil Nadu's NEET crisis
- Speaker
- Manickam Tagore, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president
- Main target
- Edappadi K. Palaniswami, AIADMK general secretary
- NEET implementation
- Allowed in Tamil Nadu in 2017, after Palaniswami assumed office
- Jayalalithaa era
- NEET was not implemented while former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa was alive
- Congress pledge
- Rahul Gandhi assured complete NEET exemption for any state opposed to it under a Congress government
- Allegations
- Question-paper leaks, corruption, examination irregularities and coaching-centre mafias
- Student referenced
- S. Anitha, a medical aspirant whose death Tagore cited among NEET's consequences