Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday urged Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to allow Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay the opportunity to prove a majority in the assembly.
On Thursday, Governor Arlekar rejected Vijay’s claim to form the government, citing a lack of sufficient numbers in the assembly. Currently, TVK has fallen short of the simple majority required to form a government in Tamil Nadu.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly comprises 234 members, and Vijay’s party lacks the threshold of 118 seats needed for a majority. Despite support from the Congress party, which has five MLAs, the TVK still does not meet the necessary majority.
Abdullah emphasized that there exists no justification for the imposition of President’s rule in Tamil Nadu. He referenced recent Supreme Court judgements indicating that the single largest party should be invited to form a government and then prove its majority on the assembly floor.
“If we refer to the Supreme Court judgement,” Abdullah stated, “then there should be no President’s rule. There are numerous cases where the court has highlighted that post-elections, the single largest party should be invited for government formation and be permitted to prove their majority in the assembly.”
Abdullah further illustrated his point by recalling how former Prime Minister A. B. Vajpayee was invited to form a government in 1996 without initially proving his numbers. “The President of India did not delay in inviting him, and though the government lasted for a mere 13 days, he ultimately resigned when he could not prove a majority,” Abdullah recounted.
He argued that the same principles should apply in Tamil Nadu, asserting, “The Lok Bhavan has no justification to stop this process.”
“Vijay should be permitted to form the government, and subsequently, he should be given the chance to demonstrate his majority. If he succeeds, he stays; if not, he resigns,” Abdullah concluded, reiterating the importance of adhering to constitutional norms and due process.
This appeal raises significant questions about the current political landscape in Tamil Nadu and the role of the Governor in assembly dynamics. As political tensions rise, parties in Tamil Nadu await the next steps in this unfolding drama.
