CPI(M) Calls on Tamil Nadu Governor to Invite Vijay to Form Government

Chennai: CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby has called on Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to invite TVK leader Vijay to form the government without delay, saying there is no justification for the Governor to stall on inviting the leader of the largest single party in the assembly to prove his majority.

Vijay had visited the Governor to stake his claim to power after TVK emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats in the 234-member assembly. However, reports indicate that the Governor is not yet satisfied that TVK has the numbers to prove a majority — the magic figure being 118 — and has asked TVK leaders to present letters of support from allied parties. TVK had announced that Vijay would be sworn in as Chief Minister on Thursday, but the swearing-in has been thrown into uncertainty as the Governor has not given final approval.

Congress, which contested as part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, has broken ranks with its alliance and declared support for TVK — but even with Congress's five seats added, TVK remains six short of a majority. CPI(M) and CPI have both refused to support TVK in government formation. Their MLAs — R. Chellaswamy and T. Latha of CPI(M), and T. Ramachandran and Marimuthu of CPI — visited DMK headquarters Anna Arivaalayam and conveyed their support to DMK chief M.K. Stalin. The Muslim League's two MLAs have also declared they will stand with the DMK alliance. The two-seat Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi has not yet announced its position. A faction within the AIADMK alliance has, however, indicated willingness to support TVK.