Leading opposition parties in the State have criticized Governor Banwarilal Purohit for interfering in administrative matters, thus undermining a Govt. which is in place.

It has been the BJP-led Centre’s trend to appoint BJP persons in gubernatorial appointments in non-BJP-ruled States so as to keep those Governments in ‘check’. Though the EPS-OPS-led AIADMK regime in Tamil Nadu is very much on ‘friendly’ terms (some say the Govt. is remote-controlled by the BJP) with the BJP, Governor Purohit’s behavior appears to indicate otherwise.

In a never-before witnessed incident in the State’s history, a Governor appears to take things into his hands when an elected Govt. is very much in place with a simple majority in the House.  Banwarilal held discussions with the District administration in Coimbatore in which the District Collector, Coimbatore Commissioner of Police, Superintendent of police and other officials took part. Here are politicians’ comments about the Governor’s interference with the administrative work of the Government:

•    DMK leader Durai Murugan said that it was apparent that chief-minister Edapadi K. Palaniswami’s writ wasn’t running in the State which is the reason for the Governor to interfere in the State’s administration which is highly condemnable.

•    Former Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president EVKS Elangovan said that now that it had become apparent that Governor Banwarilal has begun taking things in his own hands, it is time for the chief-minister to demit his office.

•    CPI leader Mutharasan said it appeared that chief-minister Edapadi K. Palaniswami had left Tamil Nadu at the mercy of Governor Banwarilal as he doesn’t have any self-esteem left.

•    CPI-M leader G. Ramakrishnan said that Governor holding discussions with District officials was against the State’s rights. He urged the Govt. of Tamil Nadu to act ot once to arrest this trend as the Governor was going overboard in discharging his duties.