The Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has taken strong exception to individuals who are not ministers attending a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Joseph Vijay. The party has formally petitioned Governor Rajendra Arlekar, urging him to intervene and ensure that only duly sworn-in ministers participate in such high-level government deliberations.
BJP's complaint details
In a memorandum submitted to the Governor on Saturday, the BJP state leadership claimed that several persons were present during the cabinet meeting held earlier this week, even though they did not hold any ministerial rank or portfolio. The party argued that this was a serious breach of constitutional norms and government protocol. According to the BJP, allowing non-members into a cabinet meeting undermines the sanctity of collective decision-making and could set a dangerous precedent.
The BJP's state president, K. Annamalai, led the delegation that met the Governor. He stated that the cabinet is a constitutional body and its meetings should be restricted to ministers appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister. “Any other person attending such meetings without being a minister is a violation of constitutional propriety,” Annamalai said.
Government's response
Sources in the state government have dismissed the BJP's complaint, stating that the Chief Minister has the discretion to invite any official or expert to cabinet meetings for specific agenda items. They argued that such practices are not uncommon and have been followed in previous administrations as well. The government also pointed out that no decisions were taken by those individuals and their presence was only for providing inputs on technical matters.
However, the BJP has countered that even if the individuals were present as invitees, their inclusion in the official cabinet photograph and seating arrangement suggested they were being treated as de facto ministers. The party has demanded a thorough investigation into the matter.
Political implications
This controversy comes at a time when the ruling party, led by actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay, is trying to establish new governance norms. The BJP, which is the principal opposition party in Tamil Nadu, has been critical of what it calls the “unconstitutional and arbitrary” functioning of the government. The party has also accused the Chief Minister of bypassing established procedures and concentrating power.
Political analysts believe that the BJP's move to petition the Governor is part of a larger strategy to corner the government on procedural violations. The Governor's office has not yet issued a statement on the petition, but constitutional experts say that the Governor can only advise the government and cannot interfere in its day-to-day functioning unless there is a clear violation of the Constitution.
Historical context
In the past, similar complaints have been made against various state governments, but they rarely led to any major action. However, with the current political tension between the ruling party and the BJP, this issue could escalate. The BJP has also threatened to approach the court if the Governor does not take cognizance of their petition.
Meanwhile, the state government has maintained that it is functioning within the framework of the Constitution and that all cabinet meetings are conducted as per rules. The Chief Minister's office has not commented on the specific allegations.
