The Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Tuesday held review meetings with top district officials in Coimbatore. However, this did not go down well with the opposition, with some politicians objecting to it.
The Governor had arrived in Coimbatore to attend the convocation ceremony of Bharathiar University.
Later, in the day, he held meetings with the district officials, including the collector, city police commissioner and corporation commissioner and other senior officials.
This has set off a debate over whether the Governor overstepped his Constitutional remit and was interfering in the affairs of the district administration.
A fringe political outfit Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhagam, led by its chief K Ramakrishnan, tried to hold a black flag demonstration and were removed by the police.
Objecting to Governor Purohit's meetings in Coimbatore, CPI (M) G Ramakrishnan said, “This only proves, yet again, that the government here is under the control of the BJP and is acting as its handmaiden”.
A bureaucrat TNM spoke to said that it was an abnormal move. Another said, "In the last few decades, TN Governors and Chief Ministers have had an amicable relationship. But I wonder if a CM like Karunanidhi or Jayalalithaa would have allowed this?".
VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan told the Times of India, "It is unconventional and unnecessary for the governor to intervene in administration. In Delhi and Puducherry, at least there is a justification for governors intervening in government administration since they are Union territories."
Congress functionary A Gopanna told The Hindu, “As far as our constitutional scheme of things is concerned, the Governor, when he or she has any issue to take up with the State government, can get it done through the council of Ministers. It would not be healthy for him to interfere in the functioning of the administration.”
DMK MP and organising secretary RS Bharati alleged that the BJP was trying to repeat in Tamil Nadu what it has done in other states while saying, “It is completely unacceptable.”
Meanwhile, BJP state president Tamilisai Sounderajan defended the governor and said, "We should look at the meetings in a positive manner. Just because there is no precedent, it doesn't stop a governor from meeting officials for the welfare of the state.”