'Illegal' of BJP to influence TN Governor into steering clear of Chennai: Congress

With the political drama in Tamil Nadu escalating by the minute, the Congress Party on Wednesday came down heavily on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for trying to fish in "troubled waters" and meddling in the state's internal affairs.

Accusing the BJP of trying to influence the Governor to put a stay on his visit to Chennai, the Congress has asserted that the ruling dispensation was behaving in a downright "unconstitutional and illegal" manner.

"It is extremely wrong, unconstitutional, and patently illegal for the BJP, both the Government and the party, to fish in trouble waters in Tamil Nadu. They have no business to instruct their Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao, who is not only the Governor of Maharashtra but also of Tamil Nadu, not to proceed," Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told ANI.

The Congress senior leader further said the moment AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala or Panneerselvam establish their majority through MLAs, the Governor cannot delay the swearing-in by one minute.

"There is nothing in the Constitution or in the practice or in tradition, or in convention which requires the Governor to delay the swearing-in. In the event that he swears-in Sasikala, and she is adversely committed upon by the apex court, then of course she will step down. But that is totally different from saying that the Governor must forthwith swear-in a person whose majority he is satisfied with," he added.

Amid political uncertainty in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao, who also holds charge for the southern state, continued to stay put in Mumbai with no indication of travel plans for Chennai.

Political crisis looms large over the state as O Panneerselvam last night said he was forced to resign as Chief Minister to make way for Sasikala to replace him for the job.