TVK May Knock SC Door Over Delay in Tamil Nadu CM Swearing-In
TVK functionaries are confident of establishing their majority in the Assembly as they were expecting parties like the VCK.
Chennai: The impasse over the swearing in of the president of Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) C. Joseph Vijay as the next Chief Minister continued on Thursday with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar making it clear that the TVK has not established the requisite majority in the Assembly, impelling the party to approach the Supreme Court for succour and its present political ally, the Congress, to call for state-wide protests.
A press release from Lok Bhavan said Arlekar had invited Vijay to his residence and explained the reason for not inviting him to form the government, while various political leaders decried the decision and said that Vijay should be given an opportunity to prove his majority in the floor of the state Assembly.
While the TVK on its own has won 108 seats in the 234 member House and the Congress with 5 MLAs has pledged its support to it, the Governor was insisting on the party proving to have the support of at least 118 members, refusing to install Vijay as the Chief Minister and then allowing him to prove his majority on the floor of the House.
TVK functionaries are confident of establishing their majority in the Assembly as they were expecting parties like the VCK, CPI and CPM to decide on extending support to the party in a day or two and also a section of the AIADMK MLAs, under the leadership of party MP C.V. Shanmugham, could possibly defect from their party to back Vijay in the Assembly
Apart from former chief minister M.K. Stalin, who met top leaders of his party at his residence, saying that Vijay should be sworn in as Chief Minister, several other leaders expressed consternation over the delay. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai announced protests in all district headquarters on Friday to condemn the Governor, who was acting as a ‘handmaiden of the Union BJP government’
The state-wide protests, to be attended by all Congress leaders and functionaries, would be held from 11 am on Friday, he said, adding that in Chennai it would be organised on Anna Salai near the Tarapore Towers, the TNCC said.
CPM state president P. Shanmugham urged the Governor to swear in Vijay as Chief Minister without any delay and honour the people’s mandate and alleged that the Governor was acting against the Constitution. CPI state secretary M. Veerapandian said that Vijay should be allowed to prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly.
While the CPM, CPI and the VCK are likely to officially announce their support to the TVK on Friday, other parties like the AMMK of T.T.V. Dinakaran, having a lone MLA in the House, have expressed their desire to back the party, after which Vijay might be able to establish his majority in the Assembly.
Since arrangements made for the swearing-in ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium on Thursday were stopped, the supporters of Vijay were enraged. Some of them held a protest in front of Lok Bhavan demanding an immediate invitation for the TVK to form the next government in Tamil Nadu from the Governor.
Many of the supporters who had come down to Chennai from other places to witness the swearing in decided to wait in the State capital till Vijay took charge as Chief Minister.
Many other leaders like Makkal Needhi Maiyam chief and MP, Kamal Haasan, too resented the Governor delaying the oath-taking process.
