TN Guv to 'take a call' on his district tour initiative: DMK

Virtually scoring a political point on its state autonomy plank, DMK working president M K Stalin today said that Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit told him that he would "consider and take a decision" on his review meetings in districts.

"When we asked him how he could go on tour of districts and hold meetings, he told us candidly that he would think about it, consider and take a decision," the DMK leader said.

Stalin, who is the leader of Opposition in the Assembly, said he and his party top leader Duraimurugan asked the Governor if it was proper for him to go on a tour to districts and hold meetings with officials when an elected government is in office.

 

Purohit's initiative went against the state's autonomy and this was made clear to him, he said.

"Whether it is the DMK or AIADMK regime, or if it is a horse-trading regime, it does not really matter. The fact is that there is a government in place," Stalin told reporters after calling on Purohit at the Raj Bhavan here.

After about a 45-minute meeting with Purohit, he said if the Governor went ahead with his tour initiative after "saying that there is no government," his party would not object.

The DMK leader, flanked by Duraimurugan,said he explained to Purohit that this was the reason behind his party holding protests whenever he went to districts for review meetings.

Stalin said the Governor told them that he was not holding review meetings, but visiting districts to know about development work.

The DMK leader said "we did not accept that."

After giving up its separatist demand of "Dravida Nadu," in the early 1960's, DMK had been steadfastly wedded to the state autonomy plank. Conceptually, Dravida Nadu comprsied the southern States and DMK had made such a demand, claiming that only North India was growing.

To a question, the DMK leader said either the Raj Bhavan or the government should come out with an official statement, saying that Purohit was not holding review meetings in districts for his party to give up protests against the State's figurehead.

He said they spoke to the Governor on the State's autonomy persuasively and 'mounted pressure' so that he would desist from his review tour.

Stalin said he called on the Governor on the latter's inivitation.

Purohit apprised them that the appointment of the Vice-chancellor to the Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University was as per norms.

Political parties, including the DMK, had opposed that appointment as the VC faced "disciplinary proceedings."

Stalin said the Governor's approach to explain the rationale behind the appointment issue was praiseworthy.

Purohit told them that a panel which went into the charges against Sastri, who was appointed as VC, had given him a clean chit. "We will consider what needs to be done on this issue (law varsity appointment)," he said.

Purohit, who assumed office last October, began touring the districts in November 2017 during which he had held review meetings involving officials.

It evoked strong opposition from DMK and its friendly parties like VCK, which said it went against the State's autonomy and the Governor was only a titular head.

While DMK had spearheaded the protest, VCK joined it in several locations. The Congress, an ally of the DMK, had also strongly critisied the Governor for his action.

Purohit, had, however defended his district tours and meetings with officials, saying it was to "subserve his Constitutional function."

He has already visited several districts, including Vellore, Cuddalore, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli and Thanjavur.