Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s pro-active moves have antagonised the ruling AIADMK faction in Tamil Nadu. Dr V Mythreyan, MP and a senior leader of the ruling faction of the AIADMK came down heavily on Governor Purohit for convening the meeting of district officials at Coimbatore on Tuesday.
“This is highly unbecoming of the Governor. He should not have ventured to convene a meeting of the district administration. His statement that he would tour the entire State and interact with officials and general public is unconstitutional,” Dr Mythreyan told journalists on Thursday.
The AIADMK leader said he does not have anything to tell about the Tamil Nadu Ministers who welcomed and supported the Governor’s action. Mythreyan’s reaction to the Governor’s action has brought to the fore the divisions within the AIADMK. Some of the Ministers in the Edappadi Palaniswamy Cabinet has gone public with statements welcoming the Governor’s action of convening meeting of officials.
Taking a cue from the reactions of major political parties, Governor Purohit said that he would tour the entire State to see for himself the implementation of the Government’s development programmes.
The CPI said it would soon launch a massive agitation demanding the removal of the Governor from Tamil Nadu. “He is trying to be an agent of the BJP and is intruding into the civil administration. This proves that the BJP, ruling at the Centre is trying to usurp the powers of the State,” said Mahendran, assistant secretary of the Tamil Nadu CPI.
MDMK leader Vaiko, the eternal rebel against the Centre said Governor’s behavious has set a bad precedence. “Purohit's action has undermined the rights of the Sates and we cannot allow it. He is acting beyond his powers,” said Vaiko in a statement.
Mahadevan, writer and commentator, said that since Tamil Nadu politics was in a standstill nobody knows what was happening in the State. He said there are wild guesses after the visit of Prime Minister to Chennai and his calling on the ailing DMK chief M Karunanidhi. “The impression that the Centre has been kind to the AIADMK Government has changed but the situation has become more fluid,” said Mahadevan.
Thiruppathi Narayanan, BJP spokesperson pointed out that the criticism against the Governor was yet another proof of the hypocrisy practiced by the political parties. “Till the appointment of Purohit, they were blaming the Centre for not appointing a full-time Governor. The DMK and all political parties wanted a Governor who would actively monitor the State administration as they had felt that the governance was in a standstill in Tamil Nadu.
Now that a full time Governor is there and he is assessing the progress of the welfare measures, they are decrying it,” said Narayanan. He also pointed out that the Governor has done nothing beyond the powers entrusted with him by the Constitution.
Banwarilal Purohit has enlivened Tamil Nadu politics which has been embroiled in a series of legal disputes which are being presided over by the Madras High Court, said Mahadevan.