Why Tamil Nadu does not have a governor
Vicky Nanjappa explains why this treatment has been meted out to Tamil Nadu, a state with a population of approximately 8 crore
Tamil Nadu has witnessed one crisis after another and each time the million-dollar question asked is why doesn't such an important state have a full-time governor. C Vidyasagar Rao, who is the acting governor of the state also holds full charge of Maharashtra.
Appointing a governor is the discretion of the government and no one in the power corridors of the National Capital have been able to give a concrete explanation as why this treatment has been meted out to Tamil Nadu.
It has been half a week since O Panneerselvam stepped down as chief minister of TN. His resignation was accepted by Rao and OPS was told continue as a care-taker CM. The AIADMK has chosen a new leader, Sasikala Natarajan, but she has not been invited to form the government.
In
the
midst
of
this,
OPS
dropped
a
bombshell
stating
that
he
was
forced
to
resign.
Although
he
does
not
have
the
numbers,
he
still
feels
that
he
is
a
contender
to
the
post.
Where
is
the
governor
in
all
this?
He
is
scheduled
to
arrive
at
2
pm
on
Thursday
and
the
fate
of
the
AIADMK
lies
in
his
hand.
When
the
crisis
was
playing
out,
the
governor
was
1,300
kilometres
away
at
a
convocation
ceremony
in
Mumbai.
Why does TN not have a governor?
Tamil
Nadu
has
a
population
of
8
crore.
It
is
known
as
the
gateway
to
India
from
South.
It
is
a
politically-charged
state
which
has
two
key
parties
which
have
always
had
a
say
in
national
politics.
In
such
an
event
it
is
important
to
note
that
the
state
has
had
an
in-charge
governor
since
September
2016.
In
today's
scenario
the
governor
is
the
most
important
functionary
in
the
state.
He
is
the
head
of
the
government
and
in
his
absence
a
lot
of
things
come
to
a
stand-still
especially
during
a
political
crisis.
Had he been in Chennai, this crisis would not have played out for so long. All that the governor has to do in such a scenario is call upon the persons with the major support to form the government. In case there is no clarity, he will have to either direct the parties to test their strength on the floor of the house and if that fails, impose President's Rule.
In
August
2016,
there
was
speculation
that
a
full-time
governor
would
be
appointed
in
Tamil
Nadu.
However,
the
Centre
decided
to
give
Rao
additional
charge
of
the
state.
None
in
Delhi
are
able
to
explain
why
such
a
decision
was
taken.
Is
it
because
the
Bharatiya
Janata
Party
has
no
presence
in
Tamil
Nadu?
The
party
is
nurturing
ambitions
of
gaining
entry
into
the
state,
but
that
does
not
appear
to
be
a
reality
for
long.
Moreover,
Rao's
services
would
be
used
more
in
Maharashtra
where
the
BJP
has
a
good
standing;
and
Rao's
presence
in
Maharashtra
is
important
today
in
the
event
of
the
Shiv
Sena
threatening
to
pull
out
of
the
government.
OneIndia News