Image: IANS, ANI
Makkal Needhi Maiyam (MNM) president and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan on Thursday said not inviting TVK to form the government in Tamil Nadu, despite emerging as the single largest party, would amount to “disrespecting the mandate of the people”.He urged constitutional authorities to allow the party to prove its majority on the floor of the House.”The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by Mr @TVKVijayHQ, has won 108 seats. Not inviting him to form the government would amount to disrespecting the mandate of the people of Tamil Nadu. The 233 elected members are still unable to take their oaths. This is an insult to the state; a damage to democracy,” Haasan said through a post on X.Referring to the Supreme Court’s ruling in the S R Bommai case, he said the court had clearly held that “a majority must be proved on the floor of the House, not in Raj Bhavan.”Haasan also referred to outgoing chief minister M K Stalin’s statement accepting the verdict and functioning as a “responsible opposition”, saying he respected Stalin’s “political maturity”.”My brother, Mr @mkstalin has announced that ‘we respect the people’s verdict; we shall function as a responsible opposition’. I respect his political maturity,” he said.Meanwhile, sources said Vijay could be sworn in as the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu once he demonstrates majority support in the Assembly, with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said to be keen on ensuring a “stable” government, as cited by ANI.Sources added that Vijay could take oath as chief minister as soon as he proves the required numbers.The development comes amid continuing political activity in the state, with Vijay meeting the Governor for a second time earlier in the day and staking claim to form the government with the backing of 112 MLAs, including five from Congress.Supporters of TVK also staged protests outside Lok Bhavan, demanding Vijay’s immediate swearing-in as chief minister.Vijay is expected to resign from one of the two Assembly seats he contested, reducing the effective strength of the 234-member House to 233 and bringing down the majority mark to 117. With support from 112 MLAs, TVK remains five short of the halfway mark.Earlier, Congress Legislature Party leader S Rajeshkumar said the party’s support to TVK was aimed at respecting the people’s mandate and working for the welfare of the state.
