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Coimbatore
Karunanidhi questions governor’s decision and wonders how an ailing CM gave advice
October 12, 2016
Chennai: DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi’s is the lone voice questioning the governor on what kind of advice he got from a leader who was ill and isolated, admitted to a ward and was not allowed any visitors.
Karunanidhi on Wednesday came out with a sharp volley of questions seeking answers from the governor on how the advice he got from chief minister was conveyed to him – orally or written.
“It is a wonder that Tamil Nadu Governor Vidyasagar Rao allocated portfolios handled by Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa to Finance Minister O.Panneerselvam based on her advice”, Karunanidhi said in a statement and said Jayalalithaa is in the hospital for the past 19 days and was advised longer stay there.
He further said several leaders including Tamil Nadu Governor, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister M.Venkaiah Naidu and others were not allowed to see or wish Jayalalithaa in person when they visited Apollo Hospitals.
All they could do was to meet doctors and some officials and few ministers who were present there.
Given this situation the statement from Raj Bhavan on Tuesday on reallocation of the portfolios “done based on the advice of Jayalalithaa” is a wonder, said Karunanidhi. He also said it was also doubtful if the governor had analyzed various provisions of the Constitution in such a short span of time.
A Raj Bhavan statement had said Governor Ch.Vidyasagar Rao has, under Clause (3) of the Constitution’s Article 166, allocated the subjects hitherto dealt with by Jayalalithaa to Panneerselvam on her advice. Jayalalithaa held the portfolios of Public, Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Forest Service, General Administration, District Revenue Officers, Police and Home.
“This arrangement has been made as per the advice of Hon’ble Chief Minister and will continue until the Hon’ble Chief Minister Selvi J Jayalalithaa resumes her duties. Selvi J Jayalalithaa will continue to be the Chief Minister,” the Raj Bhavan statement said.
Congress had welcomed the decision.
“As per the rules, the Chief Minister can orally tell any one or more cabinet colleagues to handle the portfolios. This is the practice followed across the country,” senior AIADMK leader C Ponnaiyan responded on this.
