CHENNAI: A delegation of opposition leaders on Thursday called on the President seeking his intervention to direct the TN Governor, whom they accused of ‘misusing position’ to allow a minority government to function, to hold a floor test in the Assembly in the wake of the Edappadi K Palaniswami-led government losing majority following 19 AIADMK MLAs withdrawing their support.
“The Governor has omitted to follow the democratic conventions, violating the landmark guidelines in S R Bommai case and misusing his position to allow a minority government to function and exercise powers which is totally against the Constitutional scheme and Parliamentary form of government,” read the memorandum submitted to President Ram Nath Kovind. Flaying that the Governor’s alleged delay in discharging his constitutional duties was causing a minority government to rule in the State ‘unethically’ and ‘unconstitutionally’, the leaders said. “It is imperative that the Governor is directed by the President to order the floor test immediately to prove the majority of the government.”
Assailing the Governor for his ‘inordinate silence’ without ordering confidence vote, the Opposition leaders rued that it was actually “thwarting” the parliamentary system and directly encouraging not only the “political horse trading” but also unsavoury and undemocratic ‘political manipulations’ in the State. Floor test was necessary to prevent ‘political horse trading’ and unsavoury political ‘manipulations’ by the ruling AIADMK in the State.
The delegation comprised Anand Sharma (Congress), Sitram Yechury (CPM), D Raja (CPI), and Kanimozhi, TKS Elangovan, RS Bharathi and ‘Tiruchy’ N Siva from the DMK.
The top guns recalled the memorandums submitted to the Governor by the Leader of Opposition M K Stalin and other parties that included Congress, IUML and the Left parties.
Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao’s reported statement that the 19 rebel MLAs were still members of the AIADMK and the ball had not come to his court led to a virulent attack on him by the opposition leaders.
Anand Sharma told reporters, “Tamil Nadu government, having lost majority, has no moral right to continue in office.”
Expressing hope that the President, who gave a patient hearing, would take action on the issue, Kanimozhi said the future course of action would be charted out after waiting for his response. “If no action comes, then Stalin will decide on seeking legal recourse,” she said.
The memorandum submitted to the President claimed that the AIADMK government’s strength was reduced to 113 including the Speaker whereas the MLAs opposed to the government are 120 in a House of 234.