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

Puducherry, Feb 18: The Puducherry government will face the floor test on February 22 at 5pm amid crisis in the Congress-led government in the Union Territory.

The strength of both the ruling and opposition camps stand at 14 in the 33-member house, including three nominated legislators of the BJP. The assembly has five vacancies. Congress'' own strength is ten, including the Speaker, while its ally DMK has three members.

An independent also supports the government. Soundararajan''s direction to Chief Minister V Narayansamy came after the opposition, led by Leader of the Opposition in the assembly and AINRC chief N Rangasamy, "reiterated" its stand that the government has to prove its majority on the floor of the House, a release from the Lt. Governor''s Secretariat here said.

The Lt Governor has conveyed to Narayanasamy that the Assembly will meet on Monday and be confined to a "single agenda, namely whether the government of the incumbent Chief Minister continues to enjoy the confidence of the House," it said.

Voting shall take place by show of hands and the entire proceedings be videographed, it said. "The floor test in pursuance of the above directions shall be concluded by 5 pm on 22.02.2021 and the proceedings shall not be adjourned/delayed or suspended at any cost," it said.

This comes hours after Soundararajan succeeded Kiran Bedi and took charge as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.

Bedi was removed from her post on Tuesday night at a time when the union territory was witnessing a political crisis following the resignation of Congress MLAs from the V Narayanasamy government.