Puducherry floor test: CM Narayanasamy fails to prove majority; steps down

The Congress government in Puducherry has collapsed after losing its majority and Chief Minister V Narayanasamy will resign.

After two exits on Sunday, the government's numbers had dropped to 12 MLAs in the assembly where 14 is the majority mark. As he started the Trust Vote debate, the Chief Minister had claimed he still had a majority.

After the dramatic walkout by Narayanasamy and his MLAs, Speaker V. P. Sivakozhundu announced that the government has lost its majority.

Narayanasamy tenders resignation 

Narayanasamy later submitted his resignation to in-charge Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundarrajan. "We have submitted the resignation to the Lieutenant Governor. It is now for the Lieutenant Governor to decide," Narayanasamy told the media persons.

"In the Assembly, we said only the elected members can vote. The Speaker did not agree and we walked out," he said. With this the Congress lost its only government in the south. As the Assembly polls in the union territory are due in May, it remains to be seen if Lieutenant Governor recommends President's rule or invite NR Congress-led opposition alliance to form the government.

The opposition has 14 members in 30-member Assembly whose effective strength is 28. It also enjoys the support of three nominated MLAs, all belonging to BJP. After his hard-hitting speech, slamming the Centre for colluding with the opposition to topple his government and arguments over voting rights of three nominated MLAs, the chief minister and his MLAs walked out of the House.

Addressing the Assembly ahead of floor test, he alleged that the BJP is derailing India's democratic system. "What is happening in Puducherry now is political prostitution. But the truth will prevail," he said.

He alleged that former Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi and the Centre colluded with the opposition to destabilize his government. Naranasamy, whose government slipped into minority due to resignation of six MLAs of the ruling alliance during the last one month, said MLAs who resigned will not be able to face the people as people will call them opportunists.

"As our MLAs stayed united we managed to pull off the last five years. The Centre has betrayed people of Puducherry by not granting funds we requested," he said.