Stalin challenges EPS to demand Neet cancellation as pre-condition for alliance with BJP

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Stalin challenges EPS to demand Neet cancellation as pre-condition for aligning with BJP
TNN
Chennai: A heated debate in the state assembly saw chief minister M K Stalin challenge AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami to make NEET cancellation a precondition for the party aligning with BJP for the 2026 assembly poll.
"I'm not going into whether we are right or wrong. I am not going to debate it. Do you have the guts to tell BJP that you will not be a part of their alliance if they do not cancel NEET in Tamil Nadu?" Stalin asked Palaniswami during the debate for grants for the health department.
Earlier, when members were arguing about the number of medical colleges established during the previous 10-year AIADMK regime, Palaniswami said the state cannot use lack of permission from the centre as "an excuse" for not starting new medical colleges in the last four years.
Transport minister S S Shivashankar accused AIADMK of clinching a deal with the BJP-led govt to start new medical colleges. "The eleven medical colleges were established in the state during the AIADMK regime as a quid pro quo for allowing NEET in TN," he said.
Palaniswami retorted, saying that NEET was first conceived in 2010 when DMK was a part of the Congress-led UPA govt. A Congress leader's wife argued in favour of NEET in the court, he said. Stalin, who was listening to the debate, wanted to know if the party would push for cancellation of NEET.
When Palaniswami responded, saying decisions on NEET can be taken only by the Supreme Court, Shivashankar wanted to know why AIADMK members held candle marches against NEET.
Palaniswami then accused DMK of cheating people by promising they would get an exemption from NEET if they assumed office. In response, Stalin said DMK would have succeeded if their alliance had won the Lok Sabha polls. He asked Palaniswami why they decided to align with BJP after saying they would have no alliance with the national party. Palaniswami said the DMK allied with Congress despite the anti-Hindi agitation, Emergency, and MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) imposition. MSID:: 120487448 413 |