Puducherry LG Orders Floor Test In Legislative Assembly; To Be Held On Feb 22

The Congress government in Puducherry will have to prove its majority in the assembly to continue governing the union territory.

New Delhi: Puducherry LG Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan has ordered a floor test to be conducted in the legislative assembly on February 22 by 5 pm. The Congress government will have to prove its majority in the assembly to continue governing the union territory. 

Talking about this development, Puducherry BJP President V Saminathan claimed that Chief Minister V Narayanasamy has lost the majority and his claim of having the same is false. "His government will collapse on February 22. All 14 Opposition MLAs are united," he added.

Removal of Dr. Kiran Bedi on Tuesday as the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory (UT) came as a major twist. She has been replaced by Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, Governor of Telangana, who is now handling the additional charge.

This development became significant as it happened at the heels of the Congress government losing its majority in Puducherry as 4 party MLAs resigned. 

With recent resignations, the Congress-led government in the union territory is currently at 14 in the assembly with an effective strength of 28. The simple majority in the assembly with the reduced strength is 15.

The fresh power tussle ensues even as polls in Puducherry are likely to happen in April with the House's term ending on June 8, 2021.