Banwarilal Purohit was sworn in as the Governor of Tamil Nadu on Friday, where a split in the ruling AIADMK faction has thrown up demands for an immediate trial of strength for Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami.
Opposition party DMK and its allies, and the rebel AIADMK faction who owe allegiance to TTV Dhinakaran are seeking a floor test in the Assembly.
Purohit, 77, a former MP who hails from Nagpur, was administered the oath of office by the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, Indira Banerjee at a function at the Raj Bhavan.
The event was attended by Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, ministers and opposition leader M K Stalin.
For over a year, Tamil Nadu had Ch. Vidyasagar Rao as the acting Governor after the departure of K. Rosaiah, whose term ended last year.
Rao came under attack from the Opposition and the rebel faction of the AIADMK (headed by Dhinakaran) for not ordering a trial of strength after they claimed that the Palaniswamy government has been reduced to a minority following the withdrawal of support of 18 MLAs.
Now, the issue is before the Madras High Court even as the opposition and the Dinakaran faction are expected to take up the issue with the new Governor.
Talking to the media after the ceremony, Purohit said he would go by the provisions of the Constitution in his job.
Stalin told the media that he hoped the new governor would not act like his predecessor. He also said there was a breach of protocol at the swearing-in ceremony, as he should have been allowed to greet the new Governor immediately after the Chief Minister and not after the other ministers.