Puducherry's Congress-led government on Monday lost trust vote in the legislative assembly resulting in its fall. The floor test was necessitated as the Congress-led coalition government lost six MLAs since January, including two on Feb 21, which resulted in it losing majority. In all, the ruling coalition had lost seven MLAs since last July (six Congress, one DMK). The Congress' strength in the 33-member assembly is down to 9, including the Speaker, while that of the ruling alliance, including the party, is at 12. Ally DMK, one of whose MLAs quit on Feb 21, is at two while one independent lawmaker supported the government.
Following a demand from the Opposition led by All India NR Congress founder N Rangasamy, the floor test was ordered Thursday by Tamilisai Soundararajan, the Telangana Governor, immediately after she was handed additional charge of Puducherry. Soundararajan was sworn in after the former Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi was removed from the post. "What is happening in Puducherry now is political prostitution. But the truth will prevail," says CM V Narayanasamy in his speech ahead of the floor test accusing BJP of derailing India's democratic system. Ahead of the Assembly Session, CM Narayasamy emphasised that the Congress government has the majority in the state. Stating that the Opposition who is unable to win in the elections is trying to destabilize the govt, the CM said, "They (public) trust us, this is a government elected by the people of Puducherry."