Just before Puducherry heads for polls, the Union Territory’s polity has changed for good as Narayanasamy led Congress government, after a spate of resignations of its MLAs, is now in all probability in minority. The news of Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi being recalled – a long-held demand of the Congress government saw the party break out in fervent celebrations. However, the recall of Bedi is an ominous sign for CM V Narayanasamy as it may well be a move to placate the rebel Congress MLAs to ensure the downfall of the Narayanasamy government in Puducherry in the upcoming floor test.
As Rahul Gandhi prepares to arrive in Puducherry, the Union Territory’s politics have witnessed a major upheaval. A bitter and long-drawn feud between Narayanasamy and LG Kiran Bedi finally reached its climax after the exit of Bedi.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan in a statement said, “The President has directed that Dr Kiran Bedi shall cease to hold the office of the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry and has appointed Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, Governor of Telangana, to discharge the functions of the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry, in addition to her own duties, with effect from the date she assumes charge of her office, until regular arrangements for the office of Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry are made.”
Telangana Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundarajan is not a newbie to Puducherry and knows the region from the back of her hand as she was earlier Tamil Nadu BJP Chief.
As Narayanasamy and the INC celebrate the recall of Kiran Bedi, the road ahead for them is filled with nails. Ahead of the Assembly elections in the Union Territory, four Congress MLAs have tendered their resignation from the INC, thereby reducing the party’s strength to just 11 in the 30 member Assembly. The most recent and significant exit being that of A John Kumar – a close confidant of Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy.
Moreover, it is also being reported that Opposition leader N Rangaswamy has already requested the LG to direct V Narayanswamy to prove his majority in the house.
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While Narayanasamy remains adamant and will not resign as he claims that his government is in majority, he might resign after Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Puducherry to avoid a major embarrassment for Gandhi when he visits the Union Territory.
The INC government in the past had levelled series of allegations against Bedi and perhaps had the Narayanasamy government fell under the tenure of Bedi, it would have given the INC another opportunity to play the victim card. It seems that the parachuting Dr Soundararajan has made the dismissal of the Narayanasamy government inevitable.