Bengaluru, May 7 (PTI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday termed as “unfair” Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar not inviting TVK chief Vijay to form the government in that state, despite emerging as the single largest party.
He urged the Governor to allow TVK to form the government and prove its majority on the floor of the Assembly.
“In Tamil Nadu what the Governor is doing is not fair. He should allow the single largest party (TVK) to form the government and ask them to take the floor test,” Shivakumar said.
Addressing reporters here, he said, in 2018, the then Governor invited B S Yediyurappa, leader of the BJP — the single largest party with 104 seats in the 224 member assembly– to form the government, despite the Congress-JD(S) alliance submitting a letter claiming a majority.
However, unable to manage the numbers, Yediyurappa resigned in three days, before facing the floor test.
Citing the example of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shivakumar recalled that the then President gave him an opprtunity to prove a majority on the floor of the Lok Sabha.
“TVK should be given an opportunity, it is unfair,” he said.
“Hundreds of such cases exist. In a democracy, one should look at the people’s mandate. Give them an opportunity; if TVK fails, that’s okay. There are instances of losing a vote of confidence even with one vote; didn’t Vajpayee lose?” he asked, adding that if TVK loses the vote of confidence, naturally there will be the next option.
Tamil Nadu Lok Bhavan on Thursday said Governor Arlekar explained to Vijay that his party does not have the requisite support to form the government.
Though TVK won the April 23 polls with 108 seats, it fell short of the majority mark of 118 to form the government. The Congress, which has won five seats, has extended its support to TVK. PTI KSU ROH
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