NE NEWS SERVICE
PUDUCHERRY, FEB 21
The ruling Social Democratic Front (SDF) government led by Chief Minister V Narayanasamy in Puducherry is in deep trouble, as two more Congress MLAs resigned from the Assembly on Sunday.
Narayanasamy government is scheduled to face a trust vote on the floor of the assembly on Monday to prove his majority.
Back to Back resignation in Puducherry govt.
Shri Venkatesan MLA from Thattanchavady Constituency MLA Resigned. @blsanthosh @JPNadda @BlrNirmal @arjunrammeghwal @rajeev_mp @ShriSamiNathan @ANamassivayam @BJP4TamilNadu @BJP4India pic.twitter.com/tE4ibjqL3Y
— BJP Puducherry (@BJP4Puducherry) February 21, 2021
Ahead of the trust vote, close confidante and Chief Minister Narayanasamy’s Parliament Secretary K Lakshminarayanan, elected from the Raj Bhavan constituency, tendered his resignation to Assembly Speaker V P Sivakolundhu at the latter’s residence.
Later, he told reporters that “this government led by Narayanasamy has lost majority.” Lakshminarayanan said he has also resigned from the party membership.
#Breaking | Puducherry: K.Lakshminarayanan becomes the 5th Congress MLA to resign; govt asked to prove majority in Assembly tomorrow.
Shilpa Nair with details. pic.twitter.com/8DGHL5yAri
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) February 21, 2021
Thattanchavdi MLA Venkatesan also resigned his post and joined BJP, says BJP Pondicherry Twitter handle
Following these resignations, the third during this week, the Congress’ strength further slipped to 12, while the opposition has 14 MLAs in the 33-member house which has five vacancies. Four Congress MLAs -including ex-ministers A Namassivayam (now in BJP) and Malladi Krishna Rao had quit, while another party legislator was earlier disqualified.
Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, handed over an additional charge of Puducherry, had on Thursday directed Narayanasamy to prove majority by ordering a floor test on February 22.
Lakshminarayanan’s resignation comes on a day when the ruling party members are slated to meet under the CM to discuss the future course of action though similar discussions on February 18 yielded no results.