Raj Thackeray Demands Dharmendra Pradhan’s Resignation Over NEET Crisis

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Raj Thackeray demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The remarks came after the cancellation of NEET UG 2026 over alleged paper leak concerns.
Thackeray also questioned the need for a centralised medical entrance examination system.

Mumbai: Raj Thackeray on Thursday sharply criticised the Centre over the cancellation of NEET UG 2026 and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi seek the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader accused the government of repeatedly mishandling the national medical entrance examination system and said lakhs of students had been pushed into uncertainty due to alleged irregularities and paper leak controversies.

His remarks came days after the National Testing Agency cancelled the NEET UG 2026 examination and ordered a re-test following investigative findings linked to suspected malpractice.

Raj Thackeray on NEET UG Sparks Political Debate

In a post on X, Raj Thackeray questioned why Dharmendra Pradhan had continued as Union Education Minister despite repeated controversies surrounding the NEET system during his tenure.

He alleged that the government’s obsession with centralisation had created chaos in education administration while ignoring the impact on students and families.

Thackeray said nearly 22 lakh students and their families had been left in distress after the examination cancellation.

He also questioned the effectiveness of past investigations, pointing out that a CBI probe ordered in a similar case in 2024 did not produce meaningful accountability.

The second-order effect of repeated examination controversies could be declining trust in India’s national testing system, especially among students preparing for highly competitive entrance exams.

Raj Thackeray Questions Need for NEET System

The MNS chief further argued that there was no need to impose a centralised examination like NEET when it was introduced in 2016.

According to him, the system disproportionately benefits coaching networks and creates unequal competition among students from different regions.

Thackeray claimed the Centre’s policy push was linked to expanding opportunities for students from northern states to secure admissions in southern medical colleges, where infrastructure and seat availability are comparatively higher.

He also urged Maharashtra ministers to oppose the NEET system alongside southern states that have repeatedly raised objections to the examination model.

Tamil Nadu Opposition to NEET Gains Fresh Attention

Raj Thackeray referenced opposition from southern leaders, including Vijay, who has also demanded the cancellation of NEET.

The issue has long remained politically sensitive in states like Tamil Nadu, where regional parties argue that NEET disadvantages rural and state-board students while strengthening the influence of private coaching institutions.

The debate now extends beyond examination malpractice and increasingly centers on federalism, educational autonomy and equal access to medical education.

NEET UG 2026 Cancellation Continues to Trigger Fallout

The NEET UG 2026 examination conducted on May 3 was cancelled after allegations of paper leaks and irregularities emerged.

The Centre subsequently handed the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation for a comprehensive inquiry.

Fresh examination dates are expected to be announced separately.

As protests and political reactions continue to intensify, the controversy is rapidly becoming one of the biggest education-related crises faced by the Centre in recent years.

Also Read | NEET UG 2026 Cancelled as NTA Orders Re-Examination, CBI Probe Ordered Paper Leak

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