Union Cabinet recommends President’s Rule in Puducherry

New Delhi/Puducherry: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday recommended imposition of President’s Rule in Union Territory of Puducherry after Chief Minister V Narayanasamy-led Congress government collapsed, and BJP and its allies did not stake claim to form the government.

Briefing the media after Cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Parkash Javadekar said no other political party staked claim to form a Government there, hence, the Union Cabinet has recommended President’s Rule in Puducherry.

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan who is officiating as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry has also recommended to dissolve the UT Assembly and the recommendation will be sent to President Ram Nath Kovind.

President Kovind will soon take a call on this issue and a communique will be issued by the President’s Secretariat, Mr Javadekar added.

Puducherry Assembly has the strength of 33 MLAs, including 30 elected MLAs, and three lawmakers nominated by the central government.

Mr Narayanasamy lost the Trust Vote on February 22 when he and his ministers walked out of Puducherry Assembly pinning the blame for the political crisis on former LG Kiran Bedi and the BJP-led central government.

Puducherry goes to polls in April-May along with Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Assam.

The Congress-DMK alliance, led by V Narayanaswamy fell into a crisis after a spate of resignations that led to a controversy ending with the removal of Kiran Bedi as Lt Governor.

Telangana Governor Soundarajan was subsequently given the additional charge of Puducherry.

Six MLAs from the ruling alliance have resigned since mid-January, bringing down the Assembly strength to 26. (UNI)