Four students are not allowed to write NEET in the state, leading to a political slugfest

Tejasvi Surya, Bengaluru South MP | Photo credit: File Photo

Four students in the state who appeared at examination centers were not allowed to write the UGNEET-2026 re-exam in Karnataka on Sunday, three due to late arrival and one student for carrying the May 3 exam ticket.

The exam also led to a political back-and-forth between the BJP and the Congress. While Bengaluru South BJP MP Tejasvi Surya blamed the Karnataka Congress rally where BK Hariprasad took charge as the new state unit chief at the Palace Grounds on Sunday, Home Minister Priyank Kharge hit back, calling it “disinformation”.

Three of those who failed the exam on Sunday have been assigned to the examination center of the Government Ramnarayan Chellaram College of Commerce and Management (RC College) in Bengaluru. Two students were not allowed to enter the center due to late arrival and the other student was given an old hall ticket.

Two students arrived at the center a few minutes late. The gates of the exam center were closed when the students arrived. The students begged and cried but were not allowed inside. One student tried to climb a folded grill to get into the testing center. The police brought the student down and sent her back.

A political slugfest

Taking to social media platform X, Mr. Surya said, “With Bengaluru suffocated by massive traffic congestion, many students were delayed, some panicked and reached the exam centers and had to beg the authorities to be allowed in. Fortunately, the exam authorities complied and provided compensatory time”. He said, “The Congress party could have chosen any other day for its rally at the Palace Grounds. Instead, it has chosen the very day when thousands of students are appearing for NEET.”

Home Minister Priyank Kharge hit back calling it “disinformation”. “One student traveling from Magadi could not get the bus on time and reached the center late due to which she missed the exam. Only one candidate traveling from RT Nagar side missed the exam and the exact reason is still being ascertained. Bengaluru Traffic Police issued public notices and traffic alerts well in advance,” he said.

“A BJP MP who is brimming with concern about students failing exams for various reasons has conveniently remained silent when his own incompetent government has allowed over 22 lakh students to suffer due to NEET mismanagement, paper leaks and chaos, with over 10 students allegedly committing suicide,” he replied.

Another student who arrived 20 minutes later at the Government First Class Examination Center in Gangavathi taluk of Koppal district was not allowed to enter the centre.

Published – 21 Jun 2026 23:30 IST