Lagatar24 Desk
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has strongly condemned the Union government’s recent Presidential reference to the Supreme Court regarding deadlines for gubernatorial assent to state bills, calling it a direct assault on state autonomy and constitutional balance.
Stalin terms move unconstitutional and politically motivated
In a post on X, Stalin criticised the reference filed under Article 143(1) of the Constitution, where President Droupadi Murmu raised 14 questions before the apex court. He alleged that the move is designed to legitimize the Tamil Nadu Governor’s obstruction of bills passed by the state legislature at the behest of the BJP.
“This attempt clearly exposes the fact that the Tamil Nadu Governor acted at the BJP’s behest to undermine the people’s mandate,” Stalin wrote, asserting that the reference aims to weaken elected state governments and elevate the role of governors as Union agents.
‘A threat to state autonomy and constitutional federalism’
The Chief Minister accused the Union government of attempting to paralyse non-BJP state legislatures by resisting time-bound mandates for gubernatorial assent. He questioned, “Why should there be any objection to prescribing time limits for Governors to act? Is the BJP seeking to legitimise indefinite delays?”
Stalin warned that the questions raised in the reference threaten the supremacy of the Supreme Court, the final interpreter of the Constitution, and distort the federal structure enshrined in the Constitution. He labelled it a “sinister intent” of the Centre to distort the basic distribution of powers between the Union and states.
Call for opposition unity
Calling the current moment a critical juncture in India’s democratic journey, Stalin urged all non-BJP state governments and political parties to join forces in a “legal and constitutional struggle” to defend federalism and constitutional values.
“Thus, it poses a clear exigent threat to State autonomy,” Stalin said, adding, “Tamil Nadu will fight — and Tamil Nadu will win.”
