The power-wielders in Delhi had to eat crow after what is seen as their unwarranted and highly objectionable interference in Tamil Nadu politics. Especially at a time when the need arose in that state for a smooth transition of power from one chief minister to another, this meddling has gone down bad with the public is what the local media claims.
With the ruling AIADMK nominee E Palaniswami winning the confidence vote Saturday with the support of an overwhelming majority of 124 MLAs in the 234-member state assembly, it is proven beyond doubt that the delay in effecting the swearing-in of a chief minister after incumbent O Panneerselvam’s resignation was totally uncalled for and unjustified. It was also a violation of the sacred Constitutional principles that should guide the system in such situations.
Despite grave odds, the AIADMK managed to keep its flock of MLAs together, other than for the exit of a handful, and demonstrated the party’s strength in the assembly voting two days after the new CM was sworn in by Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao. The Governor did so after much hesitation and unacceptable pauses.
He took more than 10 days to refer the matter to the Attorney General for his opinion. Even granted that it was necessary, the Governor is not able to explain the delay on his part. Whether a court judgement would come now or later, or which way it would go, are presumptive matters that do not come into the realm of a governor’s decision-making process.
In the end, to the relief of the governor, the court order went against the AIADMK nominee for CM post — party chief VK Sasikala. Several questions remain about the sudden haste displayed in the manner in which the Supreme Court came up with its order, as it sat over the matter for eight months after completion of the arguments in the case. Aspersions being cast on the judgement may go a long way to harm the credibility of the highest seat of justice in this country.
The manipulations that were done behind the scenes from the day the AIADMK selected a new chief minister are a disgrace to the institution of democracy itself, not just of the governorship. These set a wrong precedent.
None of these could have happened without the central government directly getting involved in the matter and pulling the strings from behind. Many Congress governments, especially when in single majority, had acted in similar style in the past as and when situations did not suit that party’s interests. Damodardass Modi, expected to bring in a change from the bad old ways, was seen to be doing the same with a new ferocity this time in Tamil Nadu. The desire to fish in troubled waters seems unstoppable.
However, with the AIADMK being successful in keeping most of its MLAs in one piece, the games played by the BJP through Panneerselvam failed. The disruptions caused on Saturday by the DMK members when the confidence motion was put to vote in the assembly cast a bad spell on the assembly.
It’s up to the Speaker to decide how to put a motion to vote — through open voting by raising of hands, or by voice vote or by secret ballot. No one can demand of him to do it one way or the other. Finally, the ruling AIADMK had its way. Overall, by getting involved in the dirty games in Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Damodardass Modi has steered the BJP and the central government into a major loss of face. With the new government installed in the state, the dust has finally settled, hopefully, for good.
Turnaround in Nagaland
After a brief spell of political uncertainty, things seem to be changing for the better in Nagaland. The events that led up to the resignation of chief minister TR Zeliang and the reported herding of over 40 of the ruling party legislators to a resort in Assam to push the case of an MP for filling the CM post raised the political temperature in that state.
With the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) including the Naga People’s Front (NPF) electing Shurhozelie Liezietsu as its CM nominee on Monday, the air is cleared of uncertainties. His installation should help restore peace in the state where the outgoing CM’s move to provide 33 per cent reservations for women in local body polls created a major controversy which led to street violence. The tribal leaders’ firm opposition to the reservation proposal did Zeliang in. The issue has many shades, and it is for the new CM to thrash out things and arrive at a consensus. The sensitive northeastern state, hopefully, should soon see better days.
