Puducherry: Narayanasamy resigns as CM after Congress govt loses majority

Mangalore Today News Network

Puducherry, Feb 22, 2021:     In a huge setback for the Congress party ahead of the polls in Puducherry, the V Narayanasamy government lost its majority in the Union Territory. After walking out of the Assembly, Narayanasamy tendered his resignation to Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan.

 

In the Assembly today, Narayanasamy accused the opposition of trying to topple the government. “Former LG Kiran Bedi and Central Government colluded with the Opposition and tried to topple the government. It is clear that the people of Puducherry trust us. This is a government elected by the people,” he said. Though Narayanasamy moved the motion seeking the confidence vote minutes after the Assembly met for a special one-day session, he and his ruling side MLAs later walked out before the motion was put for voting.

 

Puducherry Chief Minister submits resignation to the Lieutenant Governor after losing majority in the Assembly pic.twitter.com/Y2posu1zXQ

— ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2021

After a series of resignation, the Congress-DMK have 12 MLAs (including an Independent who is supporting the government) in the House whose effective strength is now 26, while the opposition alliance has 14 MLAs. With just three months left for Assembly polls, there are also reports of the Congress “holding talks” with some AIADMK MLAs to save the government.

Following a demand from the Opposition led by All India NR Congress founder N Rangasamy, the floor test was ordered Thursday by Tamilisai Soundararajan, the Telangana Governor, immediately after she was handed additional charge of Puducherry. Soundararajan was sworn in after the former Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi was removed from the post.

Apart from one Congress MLA who was disqualified for anti-party activities last July, a total of five Congress MLAs have now resigned from the House in the last one month, including two senior Cabinet ministers. Three of them have already joined BJP.

Following a demand from the Opposition led by All India NR Congress founder N Rangasamy, the floor test was ordered Thursday by Tamilisai Soundararajan, the Telangana Governor, immediately after she was handed additional charge of Puducherry. Soundararajan was sworn in after the former Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi was removed from the post.

“Voting shall take place by show of hands. The entire proceedings of the Assembly shall be videographed. The floor test shall be conducted by 5 pm on February 22, and the proceedings shall not be adjourned or delayed or suspended at any cost,” said a statement from Soundararajan.

With Sunday’s resignations of the Congress’s K Lakshmi-narayanan and ruling ally DMK’s K Venkatesan, a Congress leader told The Indian Express: “Even if the Speaker invokes his right to vote, there is no chance of getting majority strength.”

Courtesy:Indian Express