Puducherry CM Narayanasamy loses trust vote in assembly

The Congress-led government of chief minister V Narayansamy in Puducherry on Monday failed to prove its majority on the floor of the House, Speaker VP Sivakozhundu announced as alliance leaders staged a walkout. Narayanasamy had moved the motion seeking the confidence vote minutes after the assembly met for a one-day special session.

The chief minister accused former lieutenant governor Kiran Bedi of “colluding with the opposition” to topple his government.

He and his ruling side MLAs later walked out before the motion was put for voting.

The Congress-DMK were left with 12 legislators, including an Independent, in the House whose effective strength is now 26 after a series of resignations. The opposition alliance has 14 MLAs.

The floor test was ordered last Thursday by Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan last Thursday immediately after she was handed additional charge of Puducherry.

The legislative assembly elections are likely to take place in Puducherry in April/May. The Congress-led coalition was victorious in the previous elections, in 2016.