The Congress government in Puducherry headed by Chief Minister V Narayanasamy has plunged into a crisis with a minister and another party legislator resigning from their posts. With this, the number of Congress legislators putting in their papers in the past one month has gone up to four.
The crisis has hit the Congress government, a day before Rahul Gandhi is set to launch his campaign for the assembly elections due in April-May.
A. Johnkumar, who once vacated his seat paving the way for Narayanasamy to enter the Assembly after he was sworn-in as Chief Minister, submitted his resignation to Speaker V P Sivakozhunthu. Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao said on Monday that he too has resigned.
PWD Minister A Namassivayam and another legislator resigned from their posts last month and joined the BJP.
With four resignations and one member already disqualified by the Speaker, the Congress’ strength in Puducherry has come down to 10. DMK has 3 MLAs, and one legislator is independent. The total strength of the House is 30. On the opposition side, the AIADMK has 4 members, and NR Congress (7).
Dinesh Gundu Rao, AICC in-charge of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, told DH that the Congress would take a call on the situation after Wednesday’s rally to be addressed by Rahul Gandhi.
“We are confident of the numbers. Anyway, we have to go to the people in the next few months. This crisis has been artificially created by the BJP,” he said.