Puducherry put under Prez Rule, polls soon

All eyes in UT on PM’s visit today, Shah’s next week

With the Union Cabinet approving the proposal to impose President’s Rule in Puducherry, days after a Congress-led government in the Union territory lost power during a vote of confidence, elections there appear to be imminent.

Announcing the Cabinet decision in New Delhi, Union minister Prakash Javadekar had told reporters that the decision was taken as no party was coming forward to stake claim to forming the government in the UT. He also said significantly that the model code of conduct was expected to come into effect soon after the Election Commission announces the dates for elections in the UT, along with the four states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and West Bengal.

The acting lieutenantgovernor of Puducherry, Tamilisai Soundararajan, had no choice but to recommend President’s Rule as the Opposition group led by N. Rangasamy of the NR Congress with seven MLAs and having the support of four AIADMK MLAs besides the three (nominated) BJP MLAs, who too have a vote, was not keen on taking the reins of a government that might be in place for just about two months, as the polls are likely to be held around the middle of April.

With PM Narendra Modi scheduled to visit Puducherry on Thursday, it would have been embarrassing not to have resolved the situation arising after CM V. Narayanasamy put in his papers on Monday after walking out of the Assembly before the trust vote took place on the floor of the House.

The focus in the UT is now on the PM’s visit as well as that of home minister Amit Shah, who is scheduled to come on Monday. The PM will be inaugurating a number of big projects from Puducherry, including the new thermal power plant of the NLC in nearby Neyveli and a restored landmark building of Puducherry originally built when the French were still ruling the colony by the Bay of Bengal. He will also address a rally organised by the local BJP unit.

Meanwhile, in Puducherry, Mr Narayanasamy cautioned voters against supporting the alliance comprising BJP, AINRC and AIADMK in the coming Assembly polls, and claimed that these parties would have no qualms about merging the Union territory with Tamil Nadu.

CM NARAYANASAMY cautioned voters against supporting the alliance comprising BJP, AINRC and AIADMK in the coming Assembly polls and claimed that these parties would have no qualms about merging the UT with Tamil Nadu