Amit Thackeray backs Tamil Nadu's NEET resolution, urges Maharashtra to put students first

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS leader Amit Thackeray has backed the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assemblys resolution seeking to abolish the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test NEET saying Maharashtra should have taken a similar stand earlierIn a post on X Thackeray praised the Tamil Nadu Assembly for demonstrating what he described as political unity on an issue concerning students while criticising the Maharashtra government for allegedly ignoring concerns related to education and recruitment examinationsThackeray praises crossparty support in Tamil NaduReferring to the Tamil Nadu resolution Thackeray said opposition parties had set aside political differences to support the government on the issueWhat stood out wasnt just the policy but the political maturity on display Opposition parties including the Left set aside their political agendas ideological differences and egos to stand united with the government he saidThe Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly recently passed a landmark resolution to abolish the NEET exam and restore medical admissions based strictly on Class 12 marksWhat stood out wasnt just the policy but the political maturity on display Opposition parties including thehellip pictwittercomctW2uyA2ATmdash Amit Thackeray amitrthackeray August 13 2026Thackeray said the decision showed that public interest could take precedence over party politics when the future of students was at stake He also noted that one BJP MLA had walked out of the Assembly while the resolution was being consideredHe said the resolutions legal status would depend on subsequent action by the Governor or the President but argued that the political decision to support students was significantSays Maharashtra should have opposed NEET earlierThackeray said Maharashtra should have taken a similar position years ago recalling that MNS chief Raj Thackeray had opposed NEET in 2016Rajsaheb warned us back in 2016 that NEET was a flawed antistudent exam designed to penalize Maharashtras rural and vernacularmedium students But those in power then and now refused to listen he saidHe alleged that students in Maharashtra continue to face problems because of delays and irregularities in recruitment examinations along with shortcomings in educational infrastructureTargets government over education and recruitment issuesThackeray cited MPSC delays TET paper leaks alleged Talathi recruitment scams and what he called poor infrastructure in schools and colleges as issues requiring greater attention from the state governmentHe also criticised the ruling parties for allegedly dismissing opposition concerns as politically motivatedThis toxic political ego of the ruling dispensation is destroying the lives and futures of millions of young men and women in Maharashtra Thackeray saidHe argued that political parties should focus on governance rather than treating every issue through the lens of political rivalrySays MNS will support decisions benefiting studentsThackeray said his party was not opposed to government decisions simply for the sake of opposing them He said the MNS would support measures that genuinely benefited students and young peopleWe are not in the opposition to oppose for the sake of opposing If this government takes a bold genuinely beneficial decision for the students youth or Marathi we will be the very first to stand shouldertoshoulder with them just as we have in the past he saidHe called on the state government to engage with the opposition and avoid pushing through decisions without wider consultationAmit Thackeray concluded by urging Maharashtras ruling parties to draw from Tamil Nadus approach and prioritise public interest over political differencesBecause for us Maharashtra First Politics Later he said