Puducherry: Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan has recommended President's rule, sources said.
Highlights
- Congress government collapsed on Monday, 3 months before election
- Lieutenant Governor has recommended President's Rule: sources
- 5 Congress and one DMK MLA had quit V Narayanasamy government
The union cabinet today recommended President's rule in Puducherry after the BJP and its allies did not stake claim to form government in the union territory, days after the Congress government collapsed. The cabinet move comes soon after Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan recommended the same.
"In Puducherry, the Chief Minister has resigned and nobody has claimed to form the government and therefore, the Lieutenant Governor has recommended suspending the 14th assembly. Now, our approval will be sent to the President. After his approval, the assembly will stand dissolved," Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said during a briefing after the cabinet meeting.
The V Narayanasamy government lost power on Monday, just three months before the assembly election, after the Congress-DMK coalition fell short of the majority mark of 14 in the 26-member assembly after six resignations. Five Congress and one DMK MLA had quit. Two of the MLAs who quit Congress have switched to the BJP and more are expected to follow.
Mr Narayanasamy resigned after he lost a trust vote in the assembly last Thursday. Mr Narayanasamy accused the opposition BJP and NR Congress - the biggest opposition party - 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.
Soon after the Congress lost power, the NR Congress chief had denied it in an exclusive interview to NDTV. He also said he would consult his allies - including the BJP - and take a call on forming a government that will last only till the elections due by May.
On Tuesday, President Ram Nath Kovind accepted the resignation of Mr Narayanasamy and his council of ministers.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Puducherry and Tamil Nadu tomorrow . Apart from launching various developmental projects in the coastal union territory, PM Modi will also address a BJP rally there. The rally is being seen as the launch of the BJP's election campaign in Puducherry. Union Home Minister Amit Shah too is scheduled to visit Puducherry on February 28.
The rapid developments in Puducherry meant Congress lost its only government in the south. The Congress collapse is also seen to benefit the BJP ahead of the assembly election.