Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Thursday conveyed to TVK chief Vijay that his party does not have the requisite support to form the government and the fledgling party simultaneously stepped up its efforts to convince the Left parties, VCK and the IUML to rope them in to shore up numbers, and they are expected to spell out their stand on the matter within two days.
The parties in contention wanted the governor to invite TVK to form government. They are likely to extend support, considering Vijay is open to accommodate prospective allies in his cabinet.
Vijay, based on an invite from governor Arlekar, visited the Lok Bhavan in his his second visit within 24 hours.
"During the meeting, the Hon'ble Governor explained that the requisite majority support in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, essential for forming the government, has not been established," Lok Bhavan said in a press release.
When contacted, CPI(M) State Secretary P Shanmugam told PTI that the party would take stock of the situation and consider TVK's request for support on May 8.
CPI State Secretary Veerapandian said a decision was likely on Friday and VCK top leader Thol Thirumavalavan said his party's top level body would decide on the matter after Left parties take a stand on the issue of extending support to TVK, which is five short of the required 118 MLAs to install its first government.
The Congress, Left parties and VCK chief Thirumavalavan also condemned the Governor for not inviting Vijay so far to form the government.
"Experts say that the governor cannot demand a list of 118 MLAs who will support the government and our view is that the BJP is creating confusion in Tamil Nadu politics. They may be asked to prove majority on the floor of the House and they cannot be asked to give list in advance," Thirumavalavan told reporters.
TNCC announced a state-wide protest against the Governor and BJP regime at the Centre over the issue on Friday.
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee in a statement said, "Governments are not decided on the lawns of Lok bhavan. They are decided on the floor of the House."
TVK leader CTR Nirmal Kumar called on Veerapandian and Marxist party leader Shanmugam and sought their support in forming a government and told reporters that they had also requested IUML to extend its support.
Meanwhile, DMK sources said party president and outgoing Chief Minister MK Stalin conveyed his wish --in a meeting-- to the leaders of alliance parties including the Left that they should continue to be part of the Secular Progressive Alliance.
On the AIADMK front, MLAs of the party were lodged in a resort in neighbouring Puducherry.
In a span of 24 hours, Vijay had met the Governor for the second time on Thursday over government formation. Though TVK won the April 23 polls with 108 seats, it fell short of the majority mark of 118 to form government.
The Congress, which has won five seats, has extended its support to TVK.
CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby called upon Arlekar to uphold democratic conventions by inviting the TVK to form the government as it was the single largest party in a fractured assembly.
Speaking on the political impasse in Tamil Nadu, the CPI (M) top leader argued that in the absence of a clear majority or a pre-poll alliance reaching the magic number, constitutional precedent dictates that the leader of the largest party be sworn in. He cited the 1996 invitation to BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a historical parallel.
"The governor's office should be beyond suspicion," Baby told PTI Videos, questioning the delay in the invitation and demanding that Vijay be given reasonable time to prove his majority on the floor of the House.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Narayanan Tirupathy claimed that everything regarding government formation will happen in a democratic way and that the governor will stick to the rules.
"I don't think there is any confusion with Raj Bhavan or the governor. He (governor) will go by the constitution. He will go by rule book", the BJP leader told PTI videos.
"The way the people have cast their votes reflects this outcome. Consequently, the electorate has voted in such a way that no single party has secured an absolute majority", he added.
Tirupathy said, "According to our constitutional framework, the party that secures the highest number of seats, specifically, more than half of the total strength of the house and the one that gets the necessary support or backing is entitled to form the government. However, unfortunately, in this instance, no party has secured a majority".
"I believe this is precisely the reason for the current confusion and they (Lokbhavan) were taking the necessary time", he said adding "if other parties come forward to express their support for Vijay, a stable governance will be established in Tamil Nadu"
Meanwhile, TVK cadres staged a protest demonstration outside the Lok Bhavan on Thursday, demanding that the governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar should allow the party chief Vijay to form the government.
