Another Deadlock Amidst the Highest Constitutional Institutions!

The dissenting voices against the NDA alliance, which holds power at the Centre, are now taking a new form. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is not only at loggerheads with his state’s Governor but has also sparked a constitutional deadlock by raising questions about the powers of Governors. This has led to a fresh controversy, as President Droupadi Murmu has reportedly written a letter to the Supreme Court — a move that has stirred significant debate.

Chief Minister Stalin’s renewed criticism following the President’s letter has further fueled the controversy. Issues related to the Constitution, discretionary powers, and the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court are now at the heart of this debate.

The recent uproar stems from the Supreme Court’s directive that Governors and the President must act within a stipulated timeframe when approving bills passed by legislative assemblies. The deadlock between the Tamil Nadu Governor and Stalin's government led to this ruling, and tensions have only escalated since then. President Murmu, in a notable move, addressed a letter to the Supreme Court posing 14 pointed questions — now the focus of intense discussion.

One of her key concerns: how can the Supreme Court mandate a timeframe when the Constitution itself does not specify one? She questions the legal validity of such a verdict and challenges how the judiciary can impose deadlines that the Constitution does not mandate.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Stalin, whose conflict with the Governor initiated this constitutional standoff, has once again jumped into the fray. He now argues that the President questioning the Supreme Court's decision amounts to challenging judicial authority. He also suggests that the controversy is being used to politically benefit the Centre.

Stalin, along with various opposition and left-leaning parties, claims that the BJP is trying to paralyze the legislative processes of non-BJP-ruled states. They question why Governors and the President are objecting to bills after they’ve already been approved by elected legislatures.

As this unprecedented constitutional standoff unfolds, the big question remains: how far will this deadlock go?