Puducherry LG orders floor test in the legislative assembly on Feb 22

New Delhi: Puducherry Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Thursday ordered a floor test in assembly on February 22 amid a political crisis in the Union Territory.

The floor test will be conducted at 5 pm on February 22 and will ascertain the claims of the ruling Congress about having a majority. Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy met the Lt Governor on Thursday.

Asked about opposition demanding floor test in the legislative assembly he said, “I met the Lieutenant Governor. We discussed that also.”

Puducherry LG orders floor test in the legislative assembly on 22nd February by 5pm pic.twitter.com/Txu0bgOpYD

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2021

In an official statement, the governor noted that both ruling and opposition have a strength of 14 members each in the legislative assembly.

Puducherry BJP President V Saminathan said his party, AIADMK and All India N. R. Congress have submitted a memorandum to LG stating that the Narayanasamy government has been reduced to a minority.

“The Chief Minister should resign immediately. We want a floor test to be conducted. He has lost the majority and his claim of having the majority is false. His government will fall on February 22. All 14 Opposition MLAs are united,” Saminathan said

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy has lost the majority and his claim of having the majority is false. His government will fall on February 22. All 14 Opposition MLAs are united: Puducherry BJP President V Saminathan pic.twitter.com/AkHKHhDMij

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2021

Congress MLA A John Kumar had resigned on February 16 citing “dissatisfaction with the Congress government”.

Congress leader Malladi Krishna Rao had earlier resigned as Health Minister and MLA. The Union Territory is likely to face elections in April-May this year.

"I met the Lieutenant Governor. We discussed that also": Puducherry CM V.Narayanasamy on being asked about opposition demanding floor test in the legislative assembly pic.twitter.com/q1q6qsMPCk

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2021

Tamilisai Soundararajan formally took additional charge as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. She was sworn in today as Lieutenant Governor, an additional charge, as she already holds the position of Telangana Governor.

Kiran Bedi was removed from her post by President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday, as the Lt Governor of state.

Puducherry: Tamilisai Soundararajan formally takes additional charge as Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory pic.twitter.com/GeG3VrnDxq

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2021