Senior ministers of the NDA government came out with a measured response after the Supreme Court upheld the trial court’s conviction of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary V.K. Sasikala, but the BJP was sceptical of the stability of any proxy chief minister propped-up by her.
“After the Supreme Court verdict I am sure the Governor of Tamil Nadu will ensure a stable government for the State, consistent with the aspirations of the people,” tweeted Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from a party function at Madhya Pradesh.
His Cabinet colleague and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s go-to man for Tamil Nadu, M. Venkaiah Naidu too struck the same measured note.
Inherent instability
“The SC verdict is out today. Need of the hour is to enable an able and stable government in Tamil Nadu as per the wishes of the state. I am sure governor Shri Rao will be at it now,” he also tweeted.
Party general secretary in charge of Tamil Nadu P. Muralidhar Rao, however, struck a cautious note while noting that Ms Sasikala had put in place E. Palaniswami as a kind of “proxy” candidate for chief ministership after her conviction.
“Ms Sasikala has the advantage of being at the top of the party but she does not have the advantage that Jayalalithaa had, which was having people’s endorsement. That is a very important factor. By appointing a proxy you can never win people’s trust, which is essential,” Mr. Rao said.
“The Governor (Ch. Vidyasagar Rao) has to take a call in the context of the Supreme Court's verdict. It has become a new factor. He cannot go by mere numbers. He has to go by both numbers and credibility,” Mr. Rao added indicating a softness towards the O. Panneerselvam faction.
Call for early floor test
Senior Congress leader and former Union Finance and Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the precedent of a composite floor test — set in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in 1998 — should be followed. “If there is only one claimant, the Governor can swear in the claimant and ask him to prove his majority. If there are two claimants, the Governor should call a composite vote,” he said.
Warning to the corrupt
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has welcomed the ruling. Party general secretary Sitaram Yechury said in a statement the judgement “is a warning to all those in public life who indulge in corruption.”
“The CPI(M) urges the Governor to take steps to restore stability in the State. The Governor should take appropriate measures to convene the Assembly so that a new government can be formed,” he said.
The CPI, too, has demanded a floor test at the earliest as “there is lack of clarity about who is the leader of the AIADMK Legislature Party.”
Governor took advice of 3 experts
Tamil Nadu Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao took the advice of three legal experts, including AttorneyGeneral Mukul Rohatgi, on the political crisis in the State, according to a report sent to the Centre. This was his only report sent on Sunday to the Union Home Ministry and the President, ever since O. Panneerselvam resigned as CM on February 5.
