Will AIADMK seek NEET exemption as pre-condition for its alliance with BJP, asks CM MK Stalin
Chennai, Apr 21 (PTI): Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday asked Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami if the AIADMK would tell the BJP that scrapping NEET is a pre-condition for it to continue in the NDA.
Stalin’s attack on Palaniswami in the Assembly came after the opposition leader criticised the DMK-Congress regime for the NEET's introduction in the state. "Now you have got the right opportunity to address that problem," Stalin said and demanded to know if the AIADMK would say that it would stay back in the BJP-led NDA only if the current NEET exam system is scrapped.
"Will it say that it will snap ties if this was not done? and that is the question," he said.
Palaniswami said the DMK gave an assurance to people that it would scrap NEET ahead of the 2021 polls and the AIADMK made efforts to stop the test, which was launched during the Congress-DMK regime at the Centre.
The LoP, referring to the Supreme Court verdict on NEET wondered whether anything could be done in contravention of that judgment and asserted that only the top court could review its ruling.
The chief minister said it was true that the DMK gave an assurance to the people on cancelling NEET in the state.
He said: "We are not denying that. We would have fulfilled our promise for sure had our alliance (INDIA bloc) captured power at the Centre. Now, you have formed an alliance; will you put forward this rider (seeking ending NEET in Tamil Nadu) for continuance of the alliance and that is the question."
Palaniswami, the top AIADMK leader during his speech said there was nothing wrong in his party aligning with the BJP when the DMK stitched an alliance with the Congress party which was blamed for MISA incarcerations during the Emergency (1975-77). Also, he wondered with whom the DMK aligned in 1999.
When Palaniswami said the DMK deceived the people and formed the government in 2021, Stalin said: "We did not come to power by deceiving the people. Two months ago you said AIADMK will not be in the BJP alliance even in 2026 and 2031 polls too. Now you have joined them; why this drama and to deceive whom this drama?
Transport Minister SS Sivasankar said a "deal" had been struck between the AIADMK and the BJP over NEET and accordingly, 11 medical colleges were sanctioned by the Centre for Tamil Nadu during the AIADMK regime for allowing NEET.
The heated debate over NEET involving the ruling benches and the main opposition party happened when AIADMK's A Govindasamy spoke in the House by taking part in the Demand for Grants for Health and Family Welfare Department for 2025-26.
Speaking to reporters outside the House, Palaniswami reiterated that the national medical test was introduced by the DMK and the AIADMK took all steps to stop it.
Palaniswami said his party may align with any political party and the chief minister questioning the alliance with BJP showed that he was afraid of a regime change, a win for the AIADMK-led alliance in the 2026 Assembly polls.
Tamil Nadu has an annual admission capacity of 11,700 MBBS seats including 5,050 seats in government medical colleges, 4,453 postgraduate seats, of which 2,294 seats are in government medical colleges.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
