May 8, 2026: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said TVK chief Vijay should be invited to form the government in Tamil Nadu and given an opportunity to prove his majority on the Assembly floor.
Omar Abdullah on Friday criticised the decision of Rajendra Arlekar to deny Vijay an invitation to form the government in Tamil Nadu. Abdullah said there was no justification for preventing the leader of the single largest party from attempting to prove majority in the Assembly. He argued that several Supreme Court rulings clearly state that the largest party should first be invited to form the government and then asked to prove its strength on the floor of the House.
The remarks came after Governor Arlekar rejected Vijay’s claim, stating that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam did not have the required numbers to form the government. TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, falling short of the majority mark of 118. Although the Congress extended support with its five MLAs, the alliance still remains below the halfway mark needed for a clear majority.
Referring to past constitutional precedents, Abdullah cited the example of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was invited to form the government in 1996 despite lacking numbers initially. He noted that Vajpayee resigned after 13 days when he could not prove majority. Abdullah maintained that Vijay should similarly be allowed to form the government and face a floor test in the Assembly, adding that if he fails to prove majority, he can then resign.