Senior Congress leader and eminent jurist Abhishek Manu Singhvi criticised the Tamil Nadu Governor for delaying the government formation process. He said the Governor has no option but to invite the single largest party to form the government and prove its majority on the floor of the assembly. The single largest party currently falls four seats short of a majority, but no other political alliance has staked a claim. The jurist condemned the demand for letters of support prior to the swearing-in ceremony, citing multiple historical precedents where governors invited the single largest party despite a lack of absolute majority. Furthermore, the parliamentarian accused the central government of instructing the Governor to create a political stalemate in the state to facilitate a post-poll alliance or impose central rule.
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's aide was shot at point-blank range near Kolkata on Wednesday. The BJP alleged a targeted political revenge killing by the Trinamool Congress, while the TMC denied involvement and sought a CBI investigation.
The political crisis in Tamil Nadu intensifies as Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar refuses to invite the TVK chief Vijay to form the government without proof of a majority.
West Bengal Governor RN Ravi has dissolved the state legislative assembly with effect from May 7 after completion of its term. With this, Mamata Banerjee, who refused to resign after TMC's debacle in the assembly poll, is no longer the chief minister.
Days after Congress severed its long-standing alliance with DMK to extend conditional support to the TVK, the DMK passed a resolution condemning the grand old party for betrayal and said the 'INDIA bloc is gone'.
