Five Days After Rahul Gandhi Visit, Congress Govt Falls In Puducherry

Puducherry: The Congress government in Puducherry collapsed on Monday after losing a majority vote in the Assembly, leading Chief Minister V Narayanasamy to resign.

After two exits on the eve of the floor test on Sunday, the government’s numbers had dropped to 12 in the house where the majority mark is 14.

After a series of resignations from the Congress, Narayanasamy was asked to face a trust vote last Thursday, the day his party leader Rahul Gandhi visited Puducherry to prep for polls due by May.

CM Blames BJP, Kiran Bedi

Narayanasamy accused the opposition BJP and NR Congress of bringing down his government and also blamed former Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi of “colluding with the opposition”. He resigned soon after delivering a speech in the Assembly.

Rebel Speak

On Sunday, the ruling coalition lost two more MLAs — Congress’s K Lakshminarayanan and its partner DMK’s K Venkatesan resigned.

Four-time Congress MLA Lakshminarayanan said he was upset at not getting “recognition” in the party. He said he wasn’t made a minister, Speaker or party chief and the NR Congress and BJP had approached him.

BJP’s Gain

The Congress’s crisis was precipitated by four resignations, two in January and two last week. Both the leaders who quit in January have joined the BJP and the rest are tipped to do the same.

What Next?

With the Congress losing power, the rival NR Congress-led alliance, which has 14 MLAs, may be asked to form government with just three months to the polls. The Lieutenant Governor may also call for President’s rule, NDTV reported.