Chennai, November 2, 2025 – In a fiery display of regional defiance against the Centre's education policies, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Saturday overwhelmingly passed a resolution urging the Union Government to abolish the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions, branding it a "killer exam" that discriminates against rural and marginalized students. The move, spearheaded by the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), marks the latest salvo in the state's decade-long battle against the standardized test, but it came at the cost of a dramatic walkout by the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), which decried the resolution as "symbolic posturing" designed to score political points.
The 234-member House, dominated by DMK's 133 MLAs, approved the non-binding resolution by a voice vote after a raucous two-hour debate that saw Health Minister Ma. Subramanian thundering against NEET's "north Indian bias" and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin invoking the legacy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to rally support. The AIADMK's boycott—led by Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS)—left the chamber echoing with empty benches, underscoring deepening fissures in Tamil Nadu's political landscape just months ahead of local body polls.
The Resolution: A Reiteration of Long-Standing Grievances
Tamil Nadu's aversion to NEET dates back to its introduction in 2016, when the state first exempted itself via a 69% reservation policy for state board students, only to see the Supreme Court repeatedly strike down such measures in favor of a "one nation, one exam" paradigm. The 2025 resolution, tabled under Rule 110 as an urgent motion, goes further: It not only demands NEET's outright scrapping but also calls for the Centre to amend the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, to empower states in medical admissions. "NEET is not a leveler; it's a ladder for the privileged. It has claimed over 100 lives in Tamil Nadu alone through student suicides since 2017—enough is enough," declared Subramanian, presenting data from the state's anti-suicide helpline showing a 25% spike in distress calls post-NEET results.
The document, a 12-page dossier co-drafted by DMK's youth wing and medical student unions, cites fresh 2025 statistics: Of the 1,200 MBBS seats in government colleges, only 45% went to Tamil Nadu students under the 15% All India Quota (AIQ), with rural candidates from districts like Madurai and Tirunelveli securing just 8% despite comprising 40% of applicants. It accuses the exam of favoring coaching hubs in Kota and Delhi, where urban English-medium students dominate, and references a recent Madras High Court petition by 500+ aspirants alleging irregularities in the 2025 NEET-UG paper leak scandal that rocked the nation.
Stalin, intervening midway, framed the push as a "federal rights issue." "The BJP government in Delhi treats states like colonies. Tamil Nadu won't bow to their imposed uniformity that erodes our social justice ethos," he said, earning thunderous applause from treasury benches. The resolution also proposes an alternative: A state-conducted Common Entrance Test (CET) aligned with Class 12 board marks, a model the DMK has piloted since reclaiming power in 2021.
Assembly Drama: Slogans, Stalls, and the AIADMK Egress
The session, convened specially at 10 AM in the historic Fort St. George assembly hall, began on a combative note. DMK backbencher K. Ponmudy kicked off with a scathing poem likening NEET to "a serpent devouring the dreams of Dalit and backward youth," prompting retaliatory jeers from AIADMK ranks. EPS, rising to speak for 15 minutes, accused the DMK of hypocrisy: "You cry foul over NEET now, but where were you when your ally Congress pushed it nationally? This is election drama to hide your failures in hospital infrastructure and doctor shortages."
Tensions peaked around noon when AIADMK MLA R. Muralidharan waved placards reading "NEET = Merit, Not Murder," triggering a brief marshal intervention. As the resolution moved to vote—bypassing amendments due to majority clout—EPS signaled the walkout, with all 66 AIADMK members filing out in unison, chanting "DMK Betrayal!" The boycott, captured live on Tamil channels like Sun News, lasted 45 minutes, during which opposition empty seats became a visual metaphor for the state's polarized politics.
Speaker M. Appavu, a DMK loyalist, ruled the walkout "regrettable but not disruptive," allowing the resolution to pass unchallenged. Post-adjournment, DMK workers outside the assembly distributed pamphlets titled "Repeal NEET: Save Tamil Nadu's Future," while AIADMK cadres staged a parallel protest at Valluvar Kottam, burning effigies of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Broader Context: Echoes of Past Battles and National Ripples
This isn't Tamil Nadu's first rodeo. The DMK's 2021 return to power was fueled by anti-NEET promises, leading to a 2021 bill exempting the state—vetoed by Governor R.N. Ravi under Centre pressure—and multiple Supreme Court tussles. The 2024 NEET row, with allegations of paper leaks benefiting Bihar and Gujarat toppers, reignited southern fury, with Kerala and Andhra Pradesh echoing TN's calls for reform. In 2025, the stakes are higher: With medical seats expanding to 1,500 amid a doctor-patient ratio crisis (1:1,500 vs. WHO's 1:1,000), NEET's grip is seen as throttling Tamil Nadu's healthcare ambitions.
Nationally, the resolution lands amid BJP's push for NEET 2.0, including AI integration for question-setting. Congress, DMK's INDIA bloc ally, faces awkward optics—party chief Mallikarjun Kharge issued a tepid X post supporting "state autonomy in education" without naming NEET. Meanwhile, student outfits like the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and Tamil Nadu Medical Students' Association have pledged statewide stirs if the Centre ignores the plea.
Reactions: From Streets to Social Media
On Chennai's Marina Beach, medical aspirants gathered in solidarity, with 22-year-old Priya from Coimbatore sharing her story: "I scored 680 in NEET but lost a seat to an AIQ candidate from Delhi with 650. This exam doesn't test knowledge; it tests who can afford lakhs in coaching." Social media erupted: #ScrapNEET trended with 2.5 lakh posts, featuring memes of Stalin as a "Dravidian David" slinging stones at the "NEET Goliath." BJP's Tamil Nadu unit, led by state president K. Annamalai, hit back: "DMK's resolution is a red herring. Focus on your crumbling PHCs instead of virtue-signaling."
EPS, addressing reporters post-walkout, vowed to challenge the resolution in the Rajya Sabha, where AIADMK holds sway: "We'll expose this as DMK's ploy to deflect from law-and-order lapses." Even allies like VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, while supportive, urged caution: "Victory lies in unity, not theatrics."
Implications: A Federal Flashpoint Ahead?
As the resolution wends its way to Raj Bhavan—where Governor Ravi's assent is doubtful—the episode underscores Tamil Nadu's brewing Centre-state showdown. With 2026 assembly polls on the horizon, DMK hopes to consolidate its Dravidian base, but risks alienating urban moderates who view NEET as essential for meritocracy. Pollster C.V. Sridhar predicts: "This could boost DMK's vote share by 3-4% in southern districts, but a Centre backlash—like withholding AIIMS funds—might backfire."
In the sweltering Chennai heat, as assembly lights dimmed on Saturday, the anti-NEET chorus grew louder. Will Delhi heed Tamil Nadu's roar, or will it fuel another chapter in India's federal fault lines? For now, the resolution stands as a bold testament to a state's unyielding quest for equity—one exam, one protest, at a time.
This report is based on assembly proceedings, exclusive interviews with MLAs and students, and official documents as of November 2, 2025. Further developments, including the Governor's response, are anticipated next week.
For More News Updates Follow Us More On Www.tconews.in
