Tamil Nadu Governor seeks numbers from TVK
Marking a departure from political conventions, Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar on Wednesday sought numbers from TVK Chief Vijay, when he reached Lok Bhavan, met him to stake a claim. Kerala Governor Arlekar is charge Governor of Tamil Nadu, after RN Ravi was transferred to West Bengal. The TVK, which won 108 seats, needs the support of 12 MLAs to reach the majority mark of 118 in the 234-member State Assembly.
Congress party with five MLA has assured its support to Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhakam (TVK), abandoning its alliance with the DMK. Many DMK leaders said Congress backstabbed them.
AICC Tamil Nadu incharge Girish Chodankar said, “Our support shall be conditional upon the TVK keeping out from this alliance any communal forces that do not believe in the Constitution of India. This alliance between the TVK and the Tamil Nadu Congress will strive to bring back Perunthalaivar Kamaraj’s glory days of Tamil Nadu, with a strong commitment to Thanthai Periyar’s social justice ideals and Dr BR Ambedkar’s constitutional ideals in the years and decades to come.
“This alliance — founded on mutual respect, appropriate share, and shared responsibility between the two parties is not only for the formation of this Government, but also for future elections to the local body organisations, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.”
Vijay, who won from two constituencies, has to surrender one seat, further Assembly Speaker, expected to be from TVK, can’t vote in floor test. So, TVK is down to 106 MLAs and need the support of 12 MLAs.
DMK’s allies IUML, CPI (M) and CPI with two seats each have ruled out supporting TVK. The AIADMK, with 47 MLAs has said will not extend support to TVK. VCK, has not taken its stand on supporting TVK. PMK, with four MLAs are also talking with TVK.
