AIADMK hits out at DMK for claiming credit for 7.5 % quota

Chennai: The AIADMK and the DMK entered into a heated exchange in the Assembly on Wednesday over the 7.5% horizontal reservation for govt school students in medical admissions. While AIADMk general secretary ion Edappadi K Palaniswami accused the ruling DMK of claiming credit for the quota, health minister Ma Subramanian said the quota was the result of the pressure exerted by the then opposition leader and present chief minister M K Stalin.The clash followed AIADMK MLA K P Munusamy's remarks during the debate on the interim budget for 2026–27. He said AIADMK regime brought 11 medical colleges, whereas the present DMK govt was not able to secure even one in the past 5 years. "Without any demand, EPS brought the 7.5% reservation for govt school students," he claimed.Intervening, Subramanian said the 11 medical colleges were the continuation of former CM M Karunanidhi's initiative to establish a medical college in every district. He further said it Stalin who demanded reservation for govt school students in medical admissions. Only after the DMK announced a protest, the previous AIADMK govt announced the quota, he said.