New Delhi: The Congress Monday lost its only government in the south as Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, faced with a trust vote, tendered his resignation to Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan.
The state is headed for President’s rule as assembly elections are due in two months.
The ruling Congress coalition had been hit by the resignations of six MLAs, including one from the DMK, in the last few weeks. It had also disqualified one MLA for anti-party activities last year.
That had effectively reduced the strength of the 33-member assembly to 26. The ruling coalition was left with 12 MLAs, nine of the Congress, two from the DMK and an Independent. Of the nine Congress MLAs, one was Speaker V.P. Sivakolunthu, who could only vote in case of a tie.
The opposition has 14 MLAs. This includes seven of the All India NR Congress (AINRC) led by former chief minister N. Rangasamy, four of the AIADMK and three nominated BJP MLAs.
‘BJP, Kiran Bedi colluded to bring down govt’
Narayanaswamy had Monday landed up in the state assembly and moved the motion for the vote during the special one-day session.
The outgoing chief minister and his MLAs, however, walked out before voting took place and the Speaker announced the motion defeated. He later submitted his resignation to the L-G.
In his brief appearance in the assembly, Narayanaswamy accused the Modi government and former L-G Kiran Bedi, who was removed from office on 16 February, of colluding and toppling his government.
“We formed the government with the support of DMK and an Independent MLA,” he said. “It is clear the people of Pondicherry trusted us but former L-G Kiran Bedi and the central government colluded with opposition and tried to topple the government.”
He also alleged that the Modi government did not grant funds to the union territory.
“The UT was pushed into a financial crisis,” he said. “In Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry we follow the two-language system but the BJP is trying to forcibly introduce Hindi here.”
He added that his party will win the coming assembly elections. “We will face elections; the truth will triumph,” he said. “Toppling elected governments by poaching MLAs through money power is political prostitution. The people of Pondicherry will teach the opposition a lesson in the upcoming elections.”
Also read: Kiran Bedi’s removal right step, Raj Bhawans must not act like offices of party at the Centre
A Congress crisis
The Congress crisis began with the resignation of Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao on 13 January. Rao had been part of the Congress delegation that had met President Ram Nath Kovind last year to seek the removal of Kiran Bedi as L-G.
Then on 25 January, PWD Minister A. Namassivayam and MLA Theepainthan quit the party and joined the BJP.
On 16 February, MLA A. John Kumar resigned and on Sunday, 21 February, he was joined by K. Lakshminarayanan and the DMK’s Venkateshan.
The Congress had also suspended MLA N. Dhanavel for anti-party activities last year.
In all, the Congress had won 15 MLA seats in the 2016 assembly elections. It also had the support of three DMK MLAs and an Independent.
BJP’s mission Puducherry
The BJP has no presence in Puducherry barring the three nominated MLAs.
But sources in the party told ThePrint that it had been eyeing the union territory since January due to the fragile ruling coalition and as it believed there was resentment against Narayanasamy.
The source said things began to move quickly after the party managed to get minister A. Namassivayam to cross over. The source added that the party also took the AINRC chief N. Rangasamy into confidence on forming an alternative government.
A senior BJP leader said that Home Minister Amit Shah had Friday met Namassivayam and Puducherry BJP president Swaminathan Friday before removing Kiran Bedi as L-G.
The leader that the party had sent senior leader Arjun Ram Meghwal and Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar to look after the operation. Karnataka BJP leader Nirmal Kumar Surana was deputed to speak to possible Congress defectors.
“Our first priority was the departure of the Narayanasamy government. We are now talking to our alliance partners on our next moves,” the senior leader said.
“One option is an alternative government that will stay for a short time before elections as it will give the party another southern state. But the only pitfall to this plan is that Narayanasamy can generate sympathy and make betrayal an election issue.”
The leader further said that President’s rule will suit the BJP. “The Rangasamy faction wants the alternative government as it will be easier for him to counter Narayansamy,” he added. “Since he is the bigger partner, we have to think wisely although President’s rule will suit the BJP as it will not allow Narayanasamy to muster up any sentiment.”
The BJP also feels that having Tamilisai, who is also the Telangana governor, as L-G will work in its favour. “Tamilisai as L-G for a brief period will suit us as she is Tamil and knows the culture,” the BJP leader said. “She can be the face of the government.”
Also read: Why Congress is walking tightrope on CAA: Fiercely against it in Assam but muted in Bengal
Punducherry Chief Minister Narayanasamy resigned following his failure to prove majority in floor of house on 22 February 2021.
According to news reports , V Narayanasamy , Punducherry Chief Minister resigned following his failure to prove majority in floor of house on 22 February 2021. Reports of desertion by Congress MLAs were in news some days past. In this context , it may be apt to refer readers to this Vedic astrology writer’s one of predictive alerts in article published at english.nirpakhawaaz.in on 29 January 2021 , as follows:-
“ Predictive alerts for more care and appropriate strategy in vulnerable countries of world during 9 February , particularly from mid-February to 10 March in 2021”.
The related predictive alert reads like this in the said article :-
“( B ). Now , India is taken up covering the period from about 9 February , particularly from mid-February to 10 March in present year 2021. States and places likely to come within range of particular impact appear to be one or more among Gujarat-Gandhinagar , Sikkim-Gangtok , Chhatisgarh-Raipur , Jharkhand-Ranchi , Delhi-HimachalPradesh , Rajasthan-Dungarpur-Sikar-Jhalawar , Telengana-Hyderabad-Karimnagar , Kashmir-Srinagar . Such dates as 12 to 14 February , 17 to 18 February , 22 to 23 February and 3 to 4 March in 2021 are closely relevant for likely trending of happening or formation of the events forecast in this article. The following predictive alerts are likely to necessitate more care and appropriate strategy :-
( 2 ). Superficiality or loss of integrity or credibility in both public and private life in some vulnerable places may come to light discernibly. This seems to be covering political and social life. Intense struggle seems to be coming to light in these areas. There can be desertions or change of allegiance among political groups or parties. Where vulnerable , new formations among such political party or parties may lead to change in the government”.
Here , desertion or change of allegiance among political groups or parties has happened. Date is 22 February 2021. Telengana Governor ordered floor test and Puducherry is in vicinity of Telengana. So predictive alert on 29 January 2021 was precise and accurate.
Link to reach the article published on 29 January 2021 :-
http://english.nirpakhawaaz.in/2021/01/29/predictive-alerts-for-more-care-and-appropriate-strategy-in-vulnerable-countries-of-world-during-9-february-particularly-from-mid-february-to-10-march-in-2021/