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

Former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said on Thursday, May 7, 2026, that the right course of action for the Tamil Nadu Governor would be for him to invite the C. Joseph Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form the government and prove its majority in the State Assembly.

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

“The due process argument attributed to the Tamil Nadu Governor in the media is seen as a graceless strategy by the Governor to delay the swearing-in of Vijay despite the deafening popular mandate in his favour. It is clear that no one else can or will command a legislative majority under the present circumstances,” Mr. Kumar said in a statement.

“The constitutional duty of the Governor is to invite the leader who has majority support to form the government. It is clear that the support of the other six MLAs for Vijay can come at any time now. The right course for the Governor of Tamil Nadu under special circumstances is to invite Vijay to form the government and honor the mandate of the people and invite 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 considered contrary to the spirit of office and political morality that underpins democratic politics. “Constitutional conscience owes no apology to technicalities. Delaying the swearing-in of Vijay is a political disgrace and constitutional perversion,” he said.