Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah urged Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to provide TVK leader Vijay with an opportunity to prove his majority in the state assembly.
On Friday, Abdullah criticized the governor’s decision to deny Vijay’s claim to form the government, arguing that the absence of a simple majority does not justify stopping the political process.
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has indeed struggled to meet the threshold of a simple majority in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly. Currently, the party lacks the necessary 118 seats, despite receiving support from five Congress MLAs.
Abdullah emphasized that there is no basis for President’s rule in Tamil Nadu. He cited the Supreme Court’s established principle that encourages inviting the largest party to attempt forming the government.
“According to numerous Supreme Court judgements, there should not be President’s rule. Rather, the single largest party must be given the chance to demonstrate their majority during assembly proceedings,” Abdullah said. “If the Supreme Court favours the electoral process, it is unjust for the Tamil Nadu Lok Bhavan to intervene against this.”
He recalled historical precedents where a major party, specifically former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, was allowed to form a government despite lacking an upfront majority. “The government under Vajpayee lasted just 13 days, but he had the chance to prove his numbers before resigning,” Abdullah pointed out.
“Thus, Vijay must be allowed to form the government first. If he can prove his majority, he stays; if not, then he must resign,” he concluded, calling for adherence to democratic principles in Tamil Nadu.
This declaration from Abdullah has stirred discussions about the political dynamics in Tamil Nadu, where the power struggle continues to unfold amidst ongoing uncertainty. Many are keen to see how the situation develops in the assembly as potential alliances and political strategies are weighed.
