TN Governor playing politics: Opposition

Chennai, Aug 30 (IANS) The DMK and other opposition parties in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday accused Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao of playing a "partisan" role and refusing to convene a meeting of the Assembly for the AIADMK government to prove its majority.

First a delegation of four parties including Vidhthalai Chiruttaigal Katchi (VCK) met the Governor and demanded that he direct Chief Minister K. Palaniswamy to face a floor test in the Assembly.

VCK leader Thirumavalavan told the media that the Governor told them that the ball was not in his court because the 19 AIADMK MLAs who have expressed lack of confidence in the Chief Minister were still in that party and the issue was still within the domain of AIADMK.

"We told him the ball was in his court. The Governor said the ball has not come to his court. This reflects the position of the BJP at the Centre which is against the fall of the AIADMK government," Thirumavalavan said adding the Governor was trying to pass the buck.

"We have told the Governor that the action of the 19 MLAs amounts to their losing confidence in the government and it was his democratic duty to ask for proving the government's majority in the House," he said.

Reacting to the reported remarks of the Governor, DMK leader M.K. Stalin told reporters that Rao was behind the coming together of the two factions of the AIADMK as he was acting at the behest of the Modi government which was using agencies like the Income Tax department and Enforcement Directorate to threaten AIADMK leaders.

Stalin said the Governor was playing politics.

He said the Governor should follow the precedent set by him earlier this year when he directed a floor test after O. Panneerselvam withdrew support of 10 MLAs in the government.

The Leader of the Opposition said a delegation of MPs comprising DMK, Congress, CPI-M, CPI and Muslim League would be meeting President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday to press their demand for an immediate floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Echoing similar sentiments, V. Pugazhendi from the Dinakaran faction of the AIADMK said "terrified" AIADMK leaders were going around meeting Union Ministers to avoid a dismissal of the government.