Tamil superstar and leader of the Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Vijay.(Express Archives)
Tamil superstar and leader of the Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Vijay, has voiced strong opposition to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). His speech, delivered during a meet-and-greet event honouring top-performing students of the recent 10th and 12th grade examinations on Wednesday, saw the actor advocate for the rights of students and the autonomy of state governments in educational matters.
At the event held at an auditorium in Chennai city, Vijay highlighted three major issues with NEET– its infringement on state rights, its detrimental impact on students from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds, and the loss of trust in the examination’s credibility due to recent irregularities.
“I thought I shouldn’t speak today about anything,” Vijay began before a cheering crowd of school students, “but then I thought I shouldn’t be shying away from a crucial issue.” “NEET is a topic that needs immediate attention. Students from the poorest of the poor, backward, and most backward communities are affected due to NEET. This is a fact,” Vijay said.
Stating that the implementation of NEET is fundamentally against the rights of state autonomy, Vijay argued that the concept of ‘one country, one curriculum, one selection’ goes against the very core idea of education.
“Education should be unique for each state. It should be diverse and have the capacity to look at different perspectives. Diversity is a strength, not a weakness, we should understand that,” he said.
“After you study the state syllabus, and if you are put through to an exam in the NCERT syllabus, it is detrimental to the scope of future education of poor students,” he said.
Citing reports of irregularities in the NEET examination, Vijay said that the public has lost trust in its credibility. “From reports that have come out, we have already realised that NEET is something not required at all anymore,” he said.
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He welcomed the recent state assembly’s resolution seeking the national ban of NEET and proposed bringing education back from the concurrent list to the state list or, as an interim measure, creating a special concurrent list through a constitutional amendment. He argued that states should recapture absolute control over education, while the Union government could retain NEET for its own institutions like AIIMS.
He reminded students that “learning is fun, education is a celebration”. “Study happily, do not take any stress. There are plenty of opportunities. Do not get upset even if you miss a few opportunities. There is a beautiful world promised by God. Victory is certain,” he said.
His advocacy for state autonomy in educational matters aligns with his party’s broader agenda, as TVK prepares for the 2026 assembly elections. In the transition process from a celebrated actor to a political leader, Vijay’s speech also comes on the same day the DMK students’ wing organised statewide protests against NEET.
Arun Janardhanan is an experienced and authoritative Tamil Nadu correspondent for The Indian Express. Based in the state, his reporting combines ground-level access with long-form clarity, offering readers a nuanced understanding of South India’s political, judicial, and cultural life - work that reflects both depth of expertise and sustained authority.
Expertise
Geographic Focus: As Tamil Nadu Correspondent focused on politics, crime, faith and disputes, Janardhanan has been also reporting extensively on Sri Lanka, producing a decade-long body of work on its elections, governance, and the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings through detailed stories and interviews.
Key Coverage Areas:
State Politics and Governance: Close reporting on the DMK and AIADMK, the emergence of new political actors such as actor Vijay’s TVK, internal party churn, Centre–State tensions, and the role of the Governor.
Legal and Judicial Affairs: Consistent coverage of the Madras High Court, including religion-linked disputes and cases involving state authority and civil liberties.
Investigations: Deep-dive series on landmark cases and unresolved questions, including the Tirupati encounter and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, alongside multiple investigative series from Tamil Nadu.
Culture, Society, and Crisis: Reporting on cultural organisations, language debates, and disaster coverage—from cyclones to prolonged monsoon emergencies—anchored in on-the-ground detail.
His reporting has been recognised with the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism.
Beyond journalism, Janardhanan is also a screenwriter; his Malayalam feature film Aarkkariyam was released in 2021. ... Read More
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