Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday (May 8, 2026) asserted that there was no justification for the Tamil Nadu Governor to stop Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader C. Joseph Vijay from forming the government, and said he should be provided an opportunity to prove the majority in the Assembly.
Also read: Updates onTamil Nadu government formation
Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Thursday (May 7, 2026) rejected TVK chief Vijay's claim to form the government, stating that his party lacks the requisite numbers.
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has fallen short of meeting a simple majority to form the government in Tamil Nadu. Though the Congress with five MLAs has offered support to the TVK, Mr. Vijay's party falls short of a simple majority of 118 in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Mr. Abdullah said there was no justification for President's rule in Tamil Nadu in view of numerous Supreme Court judgments emphasising on inviting the single largest party to form the government and then prove its majority on the floor of the house.
"If we see the Supreme Court judgment, then there should be no President's rule. There are so many cases in which the Supreme Court has clearly stated that after the elections, the single largest party should be invited [for government formation] and they should be allowed to prove their majority in the Assembly," Mr. Abdullah told reporters in Srinagar when asked about the political situation in Tamil Nadu.
"It happened when Atal Bihari Vajpayee [former Prime Minister] formed the government for 13 days, the President of India did not wait for him to show his numbers. The President of India invited him, the government was there for 13 days, but when Vajpayee did not have the numbers, he resigned," he said.
So, if we take the Supreme Court judgment, the Jammu and Kashmir CM added, then the Tamil Nadu Lok Bhavan "has no justification to stop this process".
"Mr. Vijay should be allowed to form the government, and then he should be provided an opportunity to prove his majority and if he proves, he will remain, but if not, then he will have to resign," Mr. Abdullah said.