Chennai/New Delhi | CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby on Thursday called upon Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to uphold democratic conventions by inviting the TVK to form the government as it was the single largest party in a fractured assembly.

Speaking on the political impasse in Tamil Nadu, the CPI (M) top leader argued that in the absence of a clear majority or a pre-poll alliance reaching the magic number, constitutional precedent dictates that the leader of the largest party be sworn in. He cited the 1996 invitation to BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a historical parallel.

"The governor's office should be beyond suspicion," Baby told PTI Videos, questioning the delay in the invitation and demanding that Vijay be given reasonable time to prove his majority on the floor of the House.

Addressing the CPI(M)'s own position, Baby admitted that their alliance with the DMK was defeated. He noted that the party leadership would meet in Chennai to discuss their future course of action in this "peculiar situation." Though TVK has won 108 seats in the April 23 TN polls, the party is short of forming a government on its own, unable to cross the requisite 118-MLA mark. Congress has extended support to Vijay's party with its five MLAs.

Vijay has met the governor twice since Wednesday, with Arlekar informing him that he lacks the required majority to form government.