<p>Chennai: Condemning the Union government’s Presidential reference to the Supreme Court as a “desperate attempt” to weaken democratically elected state governments by placing them under the control of Governors, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday appealed to all non-BJP ruled states to join the legal struggle to "defend" India’s Constitution. </p><p>Stalin, whose government received a major victory in the Supreme Court which declared assent to 10 bills that were kept pending by Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, said the Union government’s move is an attempt to subvert the Constitutional position already settled by the apex court. </p>.Tamil Nadu sets ball rolling for appointment of VCs; asks search panels to report to govt, not governor .<p>In a Presidential Reference, President Droupadi Murmu sought the court’s opinion on whether it can invoke its inherent powers under Article 142 to “impose” timelines and prescribe the manner of conduct of Governors and the President while dealing with state Bills sent to them for assent or reserved for consideration.</p><p>This comes a month after the Supreme Court in the case between the Tamil Nadu government and the Governor tore into Ravi and set timelines for the Governor to decide on bills. The verdict was seen as a major victory for Stalin, who has been making federalism a key election issue ahead of the 2026 polls.</p><p>Contending that the nation stands at a critical juncture, Stalin said the questions raised in the reference reveal the BJP-led Union government’s "sinister intent to distort" the Constitution’s basic distribution of powers and incapacitate the State Legislatures dominated by opposition parties. </p><p>“…it poses a clear exigent threat to State autonomy. In these grave circumstances, I urge all non-BJP states and party leaders to join this legal struggle to defend the Constitution. We will fight this battle with all our might. Tamil Nadu will fight — and Tamil Nadu will win!” Stalin added. </p>.The Tuesday Interview | BJP and its ideology should be opposed beyond elections: Stalin.<p>The Union government’s Presidential Reference also directly challenges the majesty of law and the authority of the Supreme Court as the final interpreter of the Constitution, Stalin said, and posed a series of questions like why should there be any objection to prescribing time limits for Governors to act.</p><p>He asked if the BJP is seeking to legitimise its Governors’ obstruction by allowing indefinite delays in getting assent for bills and does the Union government intend to paralyse legislatures in non-BJP ruled states. </p><p>“This attempt clearly exposes the fact that the Tamil Nadu Governor acted at the BJP’s behest to undermine the people’s mandate. This is nothing but a desperate attempt to weaken democratically elected state governments by placing them under the control of Governors serving as agents of the Union government,” Stalin said. </p>
<p>Chennai: Condemning the Union government’s Presidential reference to the Supreme Court as a “desperate attempt” to weaken democratically elected state governments by placing them under the control of Governors, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday appealed to all non-BJP ruled states to join the legal struggle to "defend" India’s Constitution. </p><p>Stalin, whose government received a major victory in the Supreme Court which declared assent to 10 bills that were kept pending by Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, said the Union government’s move is an attempt to subvert the Constitutional position already settled by the apex court. </p>.Tamil Nadu sets ball rolling for appointment of VCs; asks search panels to report to govt, not governor .<p>In a Presidential Reference, President Droupadi Murmu sought the court’s opinion on whether it can invoke its inherent powers under Article 142 to “impose” timelines and prescribe the manner of conduct of Governors and the President while dealing with state Bills sent to them for assent or reserved for consideration.</p><p>This comes a month after the Supreme Court in the case between the Tamil Nadu government and the Governor tore into Ravi and set timelines for the Governor to decide on bills. The verdict was seen as a major victory for Stalin, who has been making federalism a key election issue ahead of the 2026 polls.</p><p>Contending that the nation stands at a critical juncture, Stalin said the questions raised in the reference reveal the BJP-led Union government’s "sinister intent to distort" the Constitution’s basic distribution of powers and incapacitate the State Legislatures dominated by opposition parties. </p><p>“…it poses a clear exigent threat to State autonomy. In these grave circumstances, I urge all non-BJP states and party leaders to join this legal struggle to defend the Constitution. We will fight this battle with all our might. Tamil Nadu will fight — and Tamil Nadu will win!” Stalin added. </p>.The Tuesday Interview | BJP and its ideology should be opposed beyond elections: Stalin.<p>The Union government’s Presidential Reference also directly challenges the majesty of law and the authority of the Supreme Court as the final interpreter of the Constitution, Stalin said, and posed a series of questions like why should there be any objection to prescribing time limits for Governors to act.</p><p>He asked if the BJP is seeking to legitimise its Governors’ obstruction by allowing indefinite delays in getting assent for bills and does the Union government intend to paralyse legislatures in non-BJP ruled states. </p><p>“This attempt clearly exposes the fact that the Tamil Nadu Governor acted at the BJP’s behest to undermine the people’s mandate. This is nothing but a desperate attempt to weaken democratically elected state governments by placing them under the control of Governors serving as agents of the Union government,” Stalin said. </p>