Janata Dal (Secular), Bharatiya Janata Party, and BJP Yuva Morcha leaders on Monday alleged that a Congress party event in Bengaluru triggered severe traffic congestion that prevented several students from reaching their NEET re-examination centres on time. The ruling Karnataka government expressed regret over the disruption but sharply deflected responsibility, questioning why students were forced to sit for a re-examination at all.

What the Opposition Alleged

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy alleged at a press conference in Bengaluru that traffic disruptions caused by the Congress rally had adversely affected students' futures. Kumaraswamy drew a pointed comparison with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming the PM had voluntarily waited nearly 45 minutes at the airport — after returning from West Bengal — to avoid inconveniencing students appearing for the NEET examination.

'Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently waited at the airport for nearly 45 minutes before proceeding to his residence to ensure that his movement did not affect students appearing for the NEET examination. Such precautions are expected from public representatives,' Kumaraswamy said, adding that 'Congress leaders should learn from the Prime Minister’s conduct.'

Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka alleged that the Congress programme on Palace Road caused severe congestion and questioned why the event could not have been postponed by two or three hours. 'The swearing-in of B.K. Hariprasad as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President had already been announced. Nothing would have changed if the event had been delayed,' he said.

Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya's Attack

Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya alleged that the Congress leadership organised a major convention at Palace Grounds despite the entire country being aware that the NEET re-examination was scheduled that day. He said the media had covered parents and students breaking down in tears, and that these students had already endured prolonged stress due to the re-examination process.

Targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Surya alleged the episode exposed the party's 'show-off politics' on student issues. 'Rahul Gandhi travels across the country claiming to stand with students. He visited Kota and expressed concern over students’ issues. However, in a state where his own party is in power, the government could not ensure a system that allowed students to reach their examination centres without stress,' he alleged.

Congress Expresses Regret, Hits Back

Newly sworn-in KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad acknowledged the traffic situation and expressed 'deep regret' if students were inconvenienced. However, he firmly redirected the debate toward the origins of the re-examination itself. 'Who is responsible for the NEET question paper leak? Who forced students to repeatedly appear for the NEET examination? Without answering these questions, it is shameful to target a Congress rally,' he said.

Hariprasad also noted that the programme was deliberately held on a Sunday to minimise public impact. He further alleged that the BJP had not answered questions about repeated NEET postponements, paper leaks in both NEET and CBSE examinations, and the deaths of more than 12 students by suicide last year, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had remained silent on these issues.

Background: Why a Re-Examination Was Held

The NEET re-examination was necessitated following a controversy over alleged question paper leaks in the original exam — a crisis that had drawn national attention and prompted calls for accountability from student groups and opposition parties across the country. The re-test itself became a flashpoint, with students and families already under significant stress before Monday's traffic disruption added another layer of distress.

What Happens Next

The political blame game is expected to intensify as details emerge about how many students were actually affected and whether any formal complaints have been filed. Student welfare groups are likely to demand accountability from both the state government over the traffic management failure and from the Centre over the circumstances that necessitated a re-examination in the first place.