Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday said that Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao can use his discretionary powers to decline to swear in Sasikala as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister against the backdrop of cases against her by the ED and pending Supreme Court verdict in the disproportionate assets case.
In an interview to India Today news channel’s Karan Thapar, Chidambaram said, “I think the Governor has the discretion to decline to swear her Chief Minister. It would not be unconstitutional (if the Governor does not use his powers), but it would be poor exercise of discretion.”
Commenting on Sasikala’s elevation, Chidambaram said there was complete disconnect between AIADMK MLAs and people of Tamil Nadu.
“A month ago, they reposed confidence in Panneerselvam. What has he done to lose that confidence? Did he violate the Constitution? Did he do something illegal? So what is the process they are adopting? This is not right changing your shirt everyday,” Chidambaram said.
He even tweeted:
“Why Such Haste to Replace Panneerselvam?”
Other opposition parties, including the DMK and the BJP, have accused the State Government of disrespecting their mandate.
“The people voted for a government to be headed by Jayalalithaa in May 2016 and not for one to be run by O Panneerselvam or any other person from Jayalalithaa’s household,” said DMK’s working president MK Stalin.
“Even when O Panneerselvam became Chief Minister following the demise of Jayalalithaa, there was talk of replacing him. This kind of unsteady situation is not good for the wellbeing of the state. Why is the AIADMK showing such haste, why the necessity to replace Panneerselvam,” asked TN BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan.
(With inputs from The News Minute and IANS)
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