V NarayanasamyIn 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.
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.
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy (File)
V.Narayanasamy submitted the letter of the resignation of the chief minister and his Council of Ministers to Lt. Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan
"The Speaker's ruling is incorrect. BJP govt at the Centre, NR Congress & AIADMK have succeeded in dislodging our govt by using voting power used by 3 nominated members. This is murder of democracy. The people of Puducherry and this country will teach them a lesson," V Narayanasamy said. (ANI)
After staging a walkout from the Assembly before the motion seeking confidence vote was put up for voting in the House, Narayanasamy proceeded to the Raj Nivas and submitted his resignation to Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan. "Myself, ministers, Congress and DMK MLAs and independent legislator have tendered resignation and sought it be accepted," he told reporters but did not answer queries on the next course of action.
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy meets Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, tenders resignation
The Congress-led government in Puducherry on Monday lost the confidence vote sought by Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, in the face of its depleted strength of 11 against the opposition's 14 following resignation of ruling dispensation MLAs, including a DMK legislator.
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.
Subsequently, Speaker VP Sivakolundhu declared that the motion stood defeated, even as it was said Narayanasamy was headed to the Raj Nivas, possibly to meet Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan.
In a huge setback for the Congress party ahead of the polls in Puducherry, Speaker VP Sivakozhundu Monday announced that V Narayansamy government has lost its majority in the Union Territory. As per sources, Narayanasamy will tender his resignation in a while.
Following his scathing speech and heated arguments over the voting rights of three nominated MLAs supports BJP, CM Narayansamy and ruling MLAs walked out of the house
"What is happening in Puducherry now is political prostitution. But the truth will prevail," says CM V Narayanasamy in his speech ahead of the floor test accusing BJP of derailing India's democratic system.
"MLAs should stay loyal to the party. MLAs who have resigned will not be able to face the people as people will call them opportunists," the CM said
"In Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, we follow the two language system but BJP is trying forcibly to implement Hindi," the CM adds
"Former LG Kiran Bedi and Central Government colluded with the Opposition and tried to topple the government. As our MLAs stayed united we managed to pull off the last 5 yrs. The Centre has betrayed the people of Puducherry by not granting funds we requested," CM Narayansamy added
"We formed the government with the support of DMK and independent MLAs. After that, we faced various elections. We have won all the by-elections. It is clear that people of Puducherry trust us," Narayanasamy added.
Ahead of the Assembly Session, CM Narayasamy emphasised that the Congress government has the majority in the state. Stating that the Opposition who is unable to win in the elections is trying to destabilize the govt, the CM said, "They (public) trust us, this is a government elected by the people of Puducherry."
Politically, the crisis in Puducherry is the outcome of a battle between two national parties that has extended from Delhi to the small Union Territory in the south.
Even as the writing on the wall became increasingly clear during the week, the Chief Minister has refused to resign, indicating that he wanted to push the BJP to take action to sack him — which could potentially give him the chance to play victim in the elections that are now barely two months away.
It remains to be seen if he changes that strategy in the few hours that remain before the vote in the House.
As Chief Minister V Narayanasamy faces a confidence motion in the House today, contributing to his likely defeat will be the votes of three nominated MLAs who owe allegiance to the BJP. How did Puducherry come to have nominated members in its Assembly? What has the Supreme Court said in this matter earlier? Read our explainer
Puducherry CM V.Narayanasamy arrives at the assembly
"We are going for the floor test today. Till now, we have the majority," RKR Anantharaman Chief Whip said (ANI)
"I am supporting the existing government. I don't want to change my opinion. I think the existing minister will not have majority support in the assembly," V Ramachandran, Independent MLA (MAHE constituency) at Puducherry Assembly said, news agency ANI reported
Puducherry CM V.Narayanasamy leaves for the Legislative Assembly from his residence
The spate of resignations have pulled down the ruling coalition’s numbers down to 12 in the 33-member House which has a current strength of 26.
Currently, the numbers are heavily stacked against the government. The Congress has nine MLAs, including the Speaker, and DMK two while the government also enjoys the support of one Independent MLA. The Opposition alliance has seven MLAs of All India NR Congress and four of AIADMK, apart from three nominated MLAs from BJP.