Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday called for Tamil Nadu’s Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to reconsider his refusal to let TVK leader Vijay form the government. Abdullah strongly believes that Vijay should be given a chance to prove his majority in the assembly.
Governor Arlekar denied TVK chief Vijay’s claim, stating that his party currently lacks the numbers needed. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), despite receiving support from Congress’s five MLAs, fails to meet the required simple majority of 118 in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Abdullah emphasized that there is no justification for the imposition of President’s rule in Tamil Nadu. He cited multiple Supreme Court judgments that advocate inviting the largest party to form the government and granting them an opportunity to prove their majority on the assembly floor.
“According to the Supreme Court judgment, there should be no President’s rule. The SC has made it clear multiple times that after elections, the single largest party should be invited to form the government and allowed to gather numbers in the assembly,” Abdullah informed the press.
He referenced former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who formed a government that lasted only 13 days due to his inability to secure the necessary support. The President did not prevent him from forming the government, highlighting a precedent for allowing parties to establish their majority.
Abdullah reaffirmed, “If the Supreme Court’s judgment is followed, then Tamil Nadu’s Lok Bhavan has no justification to halt this democratic process.” He insisted that Vijay should be allowed to take the reins and subsequently display his numbers, stating, “If he proves his majority, he will continue; if not, he will have to resign.”
This call for democratic integrity comes amid rising political tensions in Tamil Nadu—where Governor and party dynamics influence governance. The outcome of this situation highlights critical governance principles and the balance of power across states.
