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Telugu Governors in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra hold the key

AIADMK enjoys absolute majority in the House, and there will be only a change of guard in the ruling party

Hyderabad: In a rare coincidence, two Telugu Governors, K. Rosaiah in Tamil Nadu and Ch. Vidyasagara Rao in Maharashtra, need to exercise their wisdom, discretion and abide by convention to overcome the present crisis in handling resignations by the Chief Ministers. There is no word yet from J. Jayalalithaa on her resignation, which she will be compelled to do, if not immediately but after some time.

Sources said, Ms Jayalalithaa before leaving for Bengaluru or after being pronounced guilty by the Special Court in the afternoon, did not talk to the Governor on her reported move arising out of the verdict. However, sources said Mr Rosaiah has been in ‘touch’ with the Union home ministry and in all probability will go by the rule book.

Unlike in Maharashtra, where Assembly elections are due, a major partner of the coalition ministry opted out and Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan submitted his resignation, the situation in Tamil Nadu is totally different. AIADMK enjoys absolute majority in the House, and there will be only a change of guard in the ruling party. After Ms Jayalalithaa formally submits her letter of resignation, which can be done through her Cabinet colleagues, the ruling AIADMK could seek a nod from Mr Rosaiah to elect a new leader in a couple of days.
Sources said, the Governor may insist on a legislature party meeting followed by a resolution requesting appointment of an incumbent to head the next Cabinet.

It is also clear that once Ms Jayalalitha tenders her resignation the entire ministry also goes, and only on the recommendation of new incumbent, the Governor will administer oath to other ministers afresh. Sources said, Mr Rosaiah will follow the rule book in formation of the new Cabinet without providing scope for criticism. There is no possibility to ‘look for’ other alternatives as long as the Constitutional machinery does not break down.

Since a similar incident had happened, wherein following Mr Jayalalithaa’s resignation, Panner Selvan was appointed as the new Chief Minister earlier, even in this case the Governor may repeat the same exercise, sources added. The Maharashtra Governor, Vidyasagara Rao, who took up his new assignment just a few days ago, had in his wisdom allowed the state to be brought under President Rule.

Sources close to Maharashtra Raj Bhavan confirm, Mr Rao after receiving the resignation letter from Mr Chavan did not inform him of “his immediate decision on acceptance of his resignation” and took some time to talk to Delhi. Since poll code is in vogue, the Governor decided to put the state under President Rule instead of allowing Mr Chavan to carry on as the caretaker government.

( Source : dc )
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