CHENNAI: Deadlock continues in government formation in Tamil Nadu, with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Thursday insisting that TVK chief C Joseph Vijay provide letters of support from 118 MLA-elects to prove a clear majority in the 234-member House before agreeing to proceed with the proposed swearing-in ceremony.
Earlier today, after Vijay met Arlekar for a second time in two days, sources within the TVK had claimed that the Governor was satisfied with Vijay’s assurances on numbers and invited him to form the government.
However, a Lok Bhavan comminique released after their meeting, said that the Governor had conveyed to Vijay that the requisite majority support in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, necessary for forming the government, had not yet been established. This move effectively puts the onus back on TVK to demonstrate that it has the numbers required to form the government.
With the numbers still unclear, the swearing-in ceremony is unlikely to take place within the next couple of days, sources said.
Earlier on May 7, Vijay met the Governor at the Lok Bhavan for a second meeting in two days after the latter put his Kerala trip on hold due to the intense political activity in Tamil Nadu, while parties continued back-channel negotiations in an attempt to break the deadlock over government formation.
Yesterday (May 6), in his first meeting with Governor Arlekar to stake claim to form the government, Vijay had sought two weeks to prove his majority on the floor of the House. Lok Bhavan, however, is learnt to have conveyed that the numbers backing the claim would be weighed before any decision is taken. Sources in New Delhi suggested that the Governor was unwilling to allow a long window for a floor test, with some even claiming that Arlekar insisted on granting only two days since swearing-in to prove majority.
Meanwhile, following Congress's support to TVK, the number of MLA-elects backing Vijay rose to 113 from 108. But he is still five short from the magic number of 118, the simple majority required in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.