Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written a letter to the Chief Ministers of eight non-BJP-ruled states, urging them to unite against what he calls the Union government’s “conspiratorial move” aimed at undermining the Constitution and federal structure of India.
In his letter, Stalin pointed out that the President of India, on the advice of the BJP-led central government, has submitted a set of 14 questions to the Supreme Court under Article 143 of the Constitution. These questions seek the Court’s opinion on the extent of gubernatorial powers, particularly in relation to bills passed by state legislatures.
“Although the President’s reference does not name any specific state or judgment, it is evident that this move targets the Supreme Court's recent ruling which directed governors to act on state bills within a stipulated timeframe,” Stalin wrote.
He warned that the BJP government is attempting to nullify this judgment, calling the move a “manifestation of the BJP’s mala fide intentions.” Stalin described the Centre’s action as a deliberate attempt to weaken democratic governance in non-BJP states through backdoor means.
Stalin has sent the letter to the Chief Ministers of Kerala, Karnataka, Punjab, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana, and Jammu & Kashmir. He appealed to them to stand in solidarity and participate in the ongoing legal battle to protect the Constitution.
“I trust that you will consider this matter with the seriousness it deserves and respond with immediate intervention,” Stalin urged in the letter.
This development comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s directive in a case filed by the Tamil Nadu government against Governor R.N. Ravi, accusing him of delaying assent to several bills passed by the state assembly. The Court, taking note of the delays, had recently ruled that governors must act on such bills within a reasonable time.
In response, President Droupadi Murmu submitted a reference to the Supreme Court on May 13, seeking its opinion on the constitutional powers of governors under Article 143. The move is widely seen as an attempt to dilute the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling and provide a legal basis for the Centre to exert more control over state affairs.