EPS Slams DMK Over Unfulfilled NEET Promise: "Reveal the Secret or Admit the Lie"

The ongoing political debate over the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in Tamil Nadu has once again intensified, with AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) launching a scathing attack on the ruling DMK government for failing to fulfill its election promise to scrap the medical entrance exam.

Addressing a public gathering in Thirunelveli district, EPS accused the DMK of misleading voters, particularly students and parents, by creating false hopes that the exam would be abolished as soon as the party assumed power in 2021.

"Where Is the NEET Secret?"

EPS directly challenged Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who had previously claimed that the DMK had a "secret strategy" to eliminate NEET in the state.

“Udhayanidhi Stalin said there is a secret to cancel NEET. Let him reveal it now. People deserve to know the truth,” EPS demanded.

This statement echoes similar remarks made by the AIADMK leader earlier this year, in March 2025, when he called on both Chief Minister MK Stalin and Udhayanidhi to take responsibility for what he described as broken promises and worsening student anxiety.

DMK's First Signature Promise Still Unkept

EPS reminded the public that cancelling NEET was among the DMK’s core promises in its 2021 Assembly election manifesto. The party’s campaign strongly emphasized that their first act in power would be to do away with NEET, which many in Tamil Nadu see as discriminatory toward rural and state board students.

“They said the first signature in office would be to cancel NEET. It’s been years now — where is that action?” EPS asked.

Despite several resolutions passed in the state assembly and repeated appeals to the Centre, the exam continues to be enforced, prompting criticism that the DMK has failed to follow through on its own agenda.

Mounting Pressure Amid Student Suicides

The NEET issue remains a deeply emotional and politically sensitive subject in Tamil Nadu, particularly due to tragic instances of student suicides linked to the pressure of the exam. EPS has repeatedly urged the government to take real and urgent action, not just offer symbolic gestures or political rhetoric.

He has also accused the DMK of using the issue for political mileage, only to backtrack after assuming power.

Social Media Campaign and Public Sentiment

EPS’s latest comments have reignited the debate on social media, where he also posted on X (formerly Twitter) calling on the “#Daddy_son” duo — a pointed reference to MK Stalin and Udhayanidhi — to either reveal the NEET secret or admit they lied to Tamil Nadu’s youth and parents.

What’s Next?

As the political war of words continues, public attention remains fixed on whether the DMK will take any further legislative or legal steps to address NEET. With the issue resurfacing ahead of future elections, it is expected to remain a key electoral battleground in the state’s political discourse.