Governor’s remit is to invite TVK chief Vijay and ask for a floor test: former Law Minister Ashwani Kumar

The correct course of action for the Tamil Nadu Governor would be to invite C. Joseph Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form the government and prove his majority on the floor of the State Assembly, former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said on Thursday (May 7, 2026).

Reacting to the evolving political situation in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Kumar said constitutional conventions and judicial precedents make it clear that when a party stakes claim, the appropriate constitutional process is to allow it an opportunity to demonstrate majority support through a floor test in the Assembly.

“The due process argument attributed in the media to the Governor of Tamil Nadu is seen as a graceless stratagem on the part of the Governor to delay Vijay’s swearing-in despite a deafening popular mandate in his favour. It is obvious that under the present circumstances, none other can or does command legislative majority,” Mr. Kumar said in a statement.

“The Constitutional remit of the Governor is to invite the leader with majority support to form government. It is clear that support of six other MLAs for Vijay will be forthcoming anytime now. The correct course for the Governor of Tamil Nadu in the peculiar circumstances is to invite Vijay to form the government and honour the people’s mandate and call upon him to prove his majority on the floor of the House,” the former Union Minister added.

Mr. Kumar said that the exercise of Constitutional prerogative by the Governor cannot be seen at odds with the spirit of the mandate and the political morality that underpins democratic politics. “Constitutional conscience owes no apology to technicalities. Delaying the swearing-in of Vijay is a political outrage and a constitutional heresy,” he said.