Governor puts ball in Vijay’s court, TVK seeks crucial support
Changing the conventions, Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Thursday conveyed to TVKchief Vijay that his party does not have the requisite support to form the government. TVK leaders sought support from CPI(M), CPI, VCK, and Muslim League, having two MLAs each to cross the simple majority mark of 118 in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, having a total of 234 seats.
Vijay, based on an invite from Governor Arlekar, visited the Lok Bhavan in his second visit within 24 hours. “During the meeting, the Hon’ble Governor explained that the requisite majority support in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, essential for forming the government, has not been established,” Lok Bhavan said in a press release.
CPI(M) State Secretary P Shanmugam told the media that the party would take stock of the situation and consider TVK’s request for support on May 8. CPI State Secretary Veerapandian said a decision was likely on Friday, and VCK top leader Thol Thirumavalavan said his party’s top-level body would decide on the matter after Left parties take a stand on the issue of extending support to TVK, which is five short of the required 118 MLAs to install its first government.
The Congress, Left parties, and VCK chief Thirumavalavan also condemned the Governor for not inviting Vijay so far to form the government. Congress announced a state-wide protest against the Governor and the BJP regime at the Centre over the issue on Friday. “Governments are not decided on the lawns of Lok Bhavan. They are decided on the floor of the House,” said Congress. TVK leader CTR Nirmal Kumar called on Veerapandian and Marxist party leader Shanmugam and sought their support in forming a government, and told reporters that they had also requested IUML to extend its support. TVK cadres staged a protest demonstration outside the Lok Bhavan on Thursday, demanding that the governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar should allow the party chief Vijay to form the government.
Meanwhile, DMK leaders said party president and outgoing Chief Minister M K Stalin conveyed his wish– in a meeting– to the leaders of alliance parties, including the Left, that they should continue to be part of the Secular Progressive Alliance. On the AIADMK front, MLAs of the party were lodged in a resort in neighbouring Puducherry.
Though TVK won the April 23 polls with 108 seats, it fell short of the majority mark of 118 to form a government. The Congress, which has won five seats, has extended its support to TVK. CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby called upon Arlekar to uphold democratic conventions by inviting the TVK to form the government, as it was the single largest party in a fractured Assembly. Speaking on the political impasse in Tamil Nadu, the CPI (M) top leader argued that in the absence of a clear majority or a pre-poll alliance reaching the magic number, constitutional precedent dictates that the leader of the largest party be sworn in. He cited the 1996 invitation to BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a historical parallel. “The Governor’s office should be beyond suspicion,” said Baby.
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