Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlikar reduced the size of his convoy during his visit to the state on Saturday following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to reduce fuel consumption amid conflict in West Asia.
Sources at Lok Bhavan said that on the Governor’s instructions, the size of the convoy has been reduced to four police vehicles from 10.
The move comes after the Prime Minister urged citizens to reduce dependence on fossil fuel-powered vehicles and conserve foreign exchange in light of global economic uncertainty. The Prime Minister appealed to people to reduce consumption of petrol and diesel, use metro services in cities, adopt car sharing, increase use of electric vehicles, use railways for parcel movement and work from home wherever possible.
Arlekar held a swearing-in ceremony for the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government in Tamil Nadu on May 10 before leaving for Kerala.
During this visit to the state, Arlikar is likely to administer oath to a few TVK legislators, sources said.
Two Congress ministers will be part of the Tamil Nadu government after nearly 59 years, Congress MP Manickam Tagore said in a social media post on May 15. “For thousands of congressional staff like me, this is an emotional and historically significant moment,” he said.
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Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay along with nine TVK legislators, formally took oath before Arlikar on May 10.
The sources said that during this visit, it is likely that ministerial portfolios will be allocated to ministers, in addition to expanding the government.
Vijay won a vote of confidence in the state Assembly on Wednesday with the support of 144 MLAs, including lawmakers from his party TVK. Small parties like the Indian Union Muslim League, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, CPI, CPI(M), and Congress also supported Vijay, taking TVK’s tally to 117, the mark required to prove a majority.
Vijay’s tally improved as an internal crack opened in the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) assembly. AIADMK chief Edapaddi Palaniswami opposed the confidence vote and said that all the party’s 47 MLAs would stand against TVK, and the rival faction led by SP Velumani proved him wrong moments later.
