New Delhi: The constitutional crisis in Tamil Nadu has shifted to the Supreme Court as a second petition was filed on Saturday challenging Governor Rajendra Arlekar’s decision not to invite Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay to form the government. Former IPS officer M. Ramasubramani, who served as an Additional Director General of Police, moved the apex court arguing that the Governor’s refusal to invite the single largest party constitutes an unconstitutional determination of a majority outside the legislative assembly. The petition asserts that the Governor cannot legally deny the TVK an opportunity to prove its majority through a formal floor test.
This legal challenge follows a separate petition filed on Friday by TVK member Ezhilarasi K., which seeks a writ of mandamus to compel the Governor to administer the oath of office to Vijay. The petitions highlight that the TVK emerged from the April 23 assembly elections with 108 seats, the highest of any single party in the 234-member assembly. With the official support of the Congress (five seats) and reported backing from the CPI and CPI(M) (two seats each), the TVK-led alliance currently stands at 117 members, just one seat shy of the 118 required for a simple majority.
The political standoff now hinges on the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), led by Thol. Thirumavalavan, as the TVK actively seeks the party’s support to secure the final seat needed to reach the magic number. While the TVK has expressed confidence in gaining VCK’s backing, the Governor has maintained a strict requirement for documented proof of a majority before extending an invitation. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear these petitions, the case is expected to set a critical precedent regarding the discretionary powers of a Governor when dealing with a hung assembly and the rights of the single largest party.
