President's Rule imposed in Puducherry as Congress govt loses vote of confidence

The Union Territory of Puducherry was on Thursday evening brought under President's rule for the first time in 30 years, after the Congress government led by Chief Minister V Narayanasamy resigned on Monday.

President Ram Nath Kovind signed a notification that said President's rule will be imposed in Puducherry as per the recommendation of Lt. Governor, Tamilisai Soundararajan, received on February 22, the day Narayanasamy lost his majority in the Assembly. The notification added that the assembly has been placed under suspended animation.

Read | Former Puducherry Minister accuses Narayanasamy of being 'disloyal to people, Congress'

The notification signed by Kovind noted that the President was satisfied that the administration of the Union Territory of Puducherry could not carry on in accordance with the provisions of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 (20 of 1963).

"Now, therefore, in the exercise of the powers conferred by section 51 of the Act and of all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I (a) suspend, until the constitution of the 15th Legislative Assembly of Puducherry, in relation to the said Union Territory of Puducherry...," the notification added.

Soundararajan, in her report to Kovind, had mentioned that no party staked claim to form the government after Narayanasamy resigned as Chief Minister and hence President's rule should be imposed. The Union Cabinet, which met on Wednesday, had approved the decision.

Narayanasamy, who assumed office in June 2016, resigned on Monday after his government lost majority. The crisis was triggered after five Congress and one DMK MLA resigned as legislators in the past few weeks, bringing down the strength of the government.

While the Congress had the support of 12 MLAs, the Opposition side claimed the support of 14 MLAs, including three nominated members who are BJP leaders. The Congress has squarely blamed the BJP for the fall of its only government in South India with AICC in-charge for Puducherry alleging that Union Home Minister Amit Shah threatened Congress MLAs to resign.

This is the first time Puducherry will go under President's rule after 30 years. The last time the UT came under the Central rule was in 1991 for four months. This is the sixth time the UT will be under President's rule.