Tamil Nadu Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar questioned Udhayanidhi Stalin's role in the NEET paper leak protests and claimed that the DMK leader was not even fit to head his own party. Kumar said that if party workers were asked to vote on its leadership, the result would already be obvious.
Questioning whether DMK leaders genuinely accepted Udhayanidhi's leadership, Kumar said, "Udhayanidhi should first call the party office-bearers and ask whether he has the qualification to lead the party. He should hold a vote. To take it a step further, the voting should be on who should lead the DMK founded by Anna -- Udhayanidhi or Kanimozhi. There is no need for Udhayanidhi to even announce the results because his own party workers already know his capabilities."
Last week, Tamil Nadu Assembly Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi criticised what he described as the Vijay government's "double standards" after SFI and DYFI members protesting against the NEET-UG paper leak in Chennai, in solidarity with the Cockroach Janata Party's march in Delhi, were arrested.
"Arresting those protesting in Tamil Nadu in support of the youth fighting in Delhi under the leadership of CJP clearly reveals the ruling party's double standards on the NEET issue," Udhayanidhi said.
"The government must immediately stop this suppression, which treats protests against the Union BJP government as protests against itself," he added, while demanding the immediate release of those detained.
Responding to the criticism, Minister R Nirmal Kumar accused the DMK of attempting to hijack and politicise the student-led protests against NEET. He alleged that the party was trying to exploit the movement for political gain and claimed that students themselves chased away DMK workers who arrived wearing party-branded T-shirts.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Kumar also said that a state law alone could not override the NEET framework. Reiterating the ruling TVK government's opposition to the entrance examination, he said the government's position had been consistent from the beginning and maintained that legislative measures alone would not resolve the issue for students.
"The DMK is entering student movements to hijack them, which is a cheap political act. Students themselves chased away DMK workers who turned up wearing party-branded T-shirts. They must stop such disgraceful activities immediately," Kumar alleged.
He also took a swipe at Udhayanidhi, saying, "First, Udhayanidhi should introspect. Udhayanidhi has doubts, and that is why he is involved in some Gen Z work."
On the NEET issue, the Minister for Energy Resources and Law said, "The Tamil Nadu government cannot bypass NEET simply by passing a state law, as central laws cannot be overridden that way. Our stand has been clear from the beginning -- we do not want NEET."
Kumar also dismissed the Narendra Modi government's legislative response to the examination paper leak protests as an "eye-wash", arguing that the measures would do little to address students' concerns.
Overall, Kumar reiterated the ruling TVK government's opposition to NEET while accusing the DMK of trying to use the student protests for political advantage. He also maintained that the state government could not abolish the examination through legislation alone.
