JEE aspirants claim they were unable to attend the exam due to Pawan Kalyan’s convoy obstructing the route.

A dispute arose in Visakhapatnam when more than 20 students supposedly failed to attend their Joint Entrance Examination (Mains) on Monday morning, reportedly due to traffic delays caused by Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s convoy.

The event occurred close to the Ayan Digital examination center in Pendurthi, Visakhapatnam. Parents of a minimum of 23 students assembled outside the exam center, voicing distress about their kids being barred from entry for arriving after the deadline.

Social media was soon inundated with posts and videos asserting that the movement of the Deputy Chief Minister’s convoy caused road closures, hindering students on their way to the ION Digital Zone in Chinamushidiwada, the exam location. In reaction, the Visakhapatnam City Police (VCP) provided a comprehensive clarification denying these assertions.

As per the VCP, the testing regulations mandated that students arrive by 7 am, with entry gates shutting precisely at 8 am. The authorities verified that the Deputy Chief Minister’s convoy went through the area at 8:41 am—significantly after the gate had closed.

The police highlighted attendance statistics, mentioning that the count of absentees (including those arriving late) for Monday’s exam was 61—fewer than earlier days, which had 81, 65, and 76 absentees. Additionally, the VCP asserted that no traffic was obstructed on the BRTS road or the nearby service roads prior to 8:30 am, particularly to ensure unobstructed travel for exam candidates.

The Office of the Deputy Chief Minister (DyCMO) issued a statement, recognizing the gravity of the situation. Pawan Kalyan has requested an investigation into the matter, demanding a thorough analysis of the traffic patterns and convoy movement along the route.

The DyCMO instructed the Visakhapatnam Police to examine the duration of the traffic disruption caused by the convoy, assess the traffic conditions on student routes, and determine if any traffic control measures impacted access to the examination center.

The statement additionally highlighted that leaders of the coalition government, such as the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, have consented to restrict the use of sirens and make sure their movements do not disturb the public.