CPM support to TVK to thwart bid to host AIADMK govt: Baby

Madurai: Dismissing reports of a DMK-AIADMK alliance as rumours, CPM general secretary M A Baby said here on Saturday that an attempt was made to manipulate the verdict of the people of Tamil Nadu by hosting a govt with BJP's ally AIADMK through the backdoor.Baby told reporters that the people of Tamil Nadu voted out the incumbent DMK govt and also did not approve of the opposition AIADMK, which was in alliance with BJP. The people almost elected a new party, TVK, which turned out to be the single largest party with 11 seats short of majority.He said according to the Supreme Court verdict, the governor has to either invite the single largest party or a post-poll alliance, which has a commanding majority, to form the govt. However, governor R V Arlekar did not go by this time-tested democratic practice. "He wanted to know how Vijay is going to prove his majority. With all humility, we would like to say that it is none of the business of the governor," he said.He said that in the 1990s, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was allowed to form a govt though he did not have a majority. However, he had to resign since he was not able to prove majority. Referring to the Supreme Court verdict in the S R Bommai case, Baby said it is not the Lok Bhavan where the strength of a coalition is to be tested. It should be on the floor of the house. This well-established practice is being ignored, discarded by the governor. CPM was the first to protest and issue a statement stating that it was wrong.He said CPM decided to write to the governor to invite the single largest party to form the govt after coming to know that moves were afoot to manipulate the verdict. "Our MLAs are supporting the formation of the govt by TVK and a letter was also issued. We have also been in communication with the DMK leadership to explain the circumstances under which CPM and CPI have decided to issue letters of support to TVK," he said.Baby dismissed as rumour reports of DMK supporting AIADMK to form the govt. Earlier, the CPM general secretary participated in an event in Madurai where a book titled 'Marxiya Aasaan Thozhar SAP' detailing veteran CPM leader S A Perumal's contributions to the party.