Bengaluru witnessed major traffic congestion as a Congress rally at Palace Grounds coincided with the NEET 2026 re-examination, disrupting candidates' travel to exam centres
Bengaluru: The Congress government’s mega rally at Palace Grounds on Sunday has come under sharp criticism after several NEET re-exam candidates reportedly faced severe traffic congestion while attempting to reach their examination centres across Bengaluru. The controversy erupted after a few students were denied entry into exam centres for arriving late, prompting BJP leaders to accuse the Congress of prioritising political optics over students’ interests.
At Bengaluru’s RC College examination centre, three female students were reportedly barred from writing the NEET re-examination after reaching the venue beyond the prescribed reporting time. The students and their family members pleaded with authorities, citing heavy traffic congestion and transportation delays as the primary reasons for their late arrival. However, examination officials refused to grant them entry, forcing the students to return home disappointed and in tears.
A similar incident was reported at Jayanagar, where candidates allegedly struggled to reach examination centres on time amid logistical challenges. The developments triggered a political war of words, with BJP leaders blaming the Congress party’s large-scale rally in Bengaluru for worsening traffic conditions on a day when thousands of students were appearing for one of India’s most competitive entrance examinations.
Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya launched a scathing attack on the Congress leadership, particularly targeting the decision to organise a massive political gathering at Palace Grounds on the same day as the NEET re-examination.
“The Congress party could have chosen any other day for its rally at Palace Grounds. Instead, it chose the very day thousands of students are appearing for NEET,” Surya said.
According to the BJP MP, large stretches of Bengaluru witnessed traffic disruptions as thousands of party workers, vehicles and supporters converged on the rally venue. He alleged that the resulting congestion delayed students travelling to examination centres, creating anxiety among candidates and their families.
“As massive traffic disruptions choked Bengaluru, many students were delayed, some reaching exam centres in panic and having to plead with authorities to be allowed inside,” he said.
Surya further claimed that several candidates narrowly escaped losing their opportunity to write the examination only because authorities exercised discretion and accommodated them. “Thankfully, examination authorities accommodated them and provided compensatory time,” he stated.
The BJP leader accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of hypocrisy, alleging that the party frequently projects itself as a champion of students’ causes while failing to demonstrate the same concern in practice.
“For weeks, Rahul Gandhi has been shedding crocodile tears over students and examinations. Had his concern been genuine, his party would have avoided holding a mega political rally in the heart of the city at the exact time of one of India’s most important entrance exams,” Surya said.
He further argued that students preparing for highly competitive examinations deserve special consideration from governments and political parties, especially on examination days when punctuality is crucial.
“Students deserve sensitivity, not political theatrics. Concern for students cannot be a slogan in Delhi and an inconvenience in Bengaluru,” he remarked.
The controversy has once again brought Bengaluru’s chronic traffic challenges into focus. The city has long grappled with congestion issues, particularly during large public events and political gatherings. Opposition leaders argue that authorities should have anticipated the impact of a major rally attracting thousands of participants and taken additional measures to ensure smooth movement for NEET candidates.
Parents of affected students expressed frustration over the situation, noting that candidates had spent months preparing for the highly competitive medical entrance examination. Missing the test due to circumstances beyond their control, they said, was heartbreaking for both students and families.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders have not officially responded to the BJP’s allegations linking the rally to students reaching examination centres late. However, party leaders have maintained that necessary permissions and traffic arrangements were in place for the event.
The incident has nevertheless sparked a wider debate over whether large-scale political programmes should be scheduled on days when national-level examinations are conducted. With NEET determining admission to medical courses across the country, many have argued that governments and political parties must exercise greater caution while planning events that could affect student mobility.
Amid this, the emotional images of students returning from examination centres without being allowed to write the test have added a human dimension to the controversy, raising questions about priorities, planning, and accountability on a day that carried enormous significance for thousands of aspiring medical students.
