Embattled Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy sounded defiant as his Congress-DMK government prepared to face a floor test in the Puducherry Assembly on Monday. Since January, a total of six Congress MLAs have quit the Assembly, reducing the ruling combine’s effective strength to 11 in the 33-member legislature, with 14 opposition MLAs.
Speaking in the Assembly, Narayanasamy referred to constant hindrances from the Centre and former lieutenant-governor Kiran Bedi. However, he said “Whatever difficulties we had, we worked hard for the welfare of the people”.
“In 2016, we formed the government with the help of three DMK MLAs and one independent and with blessings of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and [late DMK patriarch] M. Karunandhi,” Narayanasamy said.
Highlighting the popularity of his government, Narayanasamy said following the Assembly polls victory, the Congress-DMK alliance won in three elections. “In Nellithope, I won 70 per cent votes. In 2019 [Lok Sabha polls], we formed an alliance with DMK, VCK and MMK; we won with a margin of 2 lakh votes. After that, we won from Kamaraj Nagar constituency,” Narayanasamy declared.
“We are in one secular alliance. Opposition has NR Congress, AIADMK and BJP. We didn't get the required finances from Centre on one side, on the other, Bedi was our L-G. Despite many difficulties, we wanted to ensure our Congress government completes its full term. We have completed all the welfare schemes that the NR Congress government failed to,” Narayanasamy said.
Narayanasamy added “Kiran Bedi and the Modi government worked towards bringing us down. But because our MLAs were strong enough, we are able to steer the government.”
He and Minister M. Kandasamy met the speaker and said "We have the majority. The nominated MLAs don't have voting rights.”
The floor test is expected to happen around 5pm on Monday.
