TNCC President Alleges BJP Gains from NEET Coaching Centres
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president B. Manickam Tagore alleged on Saturday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is benefiting financially from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) coaching industry. Speaking at an anti-NEET meeting in Salem, Tagore claimed that the exam has forced parents to spend heavily on coaching.
According to Tagore, out of approximately 70,000 candidates who clear NEET each year, only 13,000 secure medical seats. He alleged that the Union government's poor administration has led to question paper leaks, particularly in BJP-ruled states. Tagore also stated that students across the country spend about ₹1.26 lakh crore annually on NEET coaching, and that the BJP uses this money for political purposes. He added that there are no regulations governing these coaching centres.
Tagore reiterated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's call to scrap NEET, describing it as a scam that benefits only the wealthy. He criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not understanding the issue. The BJP has not yet responded to these allegations.
NEET has been a contentious issue in Tamil Nadu, where the state government and several political parties have opposed it, arguing that it disadvantages students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds. The state has passed laws to exempt itself from NEET, but these have faced legal challenges.
