BJP Utilising All Its Powers to ‘Topple’ Congress Govt in Puducherry Ahead of Assembly Elections

Just a couple of months ahead of the Assembly elections, the Puducherry union territory is in a major political turmoil. The Congress-led government no longer has the majority because four of its MLAs have tendered their resignations in a matter of two months, and reportedly extended their support to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

As a result, the leader of opposition N. Rangasamy is demanding the Chief Minister V Narayanasamy to resign claiming that the government has lost majority. Deputy Speaker M N R Balan, however, has said that Congress is ready to prove its majority on the floor of the house.

Adding to the political drama, after several months of pressure from the ruling alliance, the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry was changed overnight. Former LG Kiran Bedi, who was accused by the Congress-Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam alliance of blatantly siding with the central BJP government, was replaced by Tamilisai Soundarajan on February 16. Soundararajan is the Governor of Telangana, but also a prominent BJP face in Tamil Nadu.

BJP’S PROMISES TO LURE CONGRESS MLAS

Two of the resigned Congress MLAs have already joined the BJP and there is speculation that the other two would take the same path.

CM Narayanasamy has accused the BJP of giving Congress MLAs “false promises” and luring them onto their side prior to the elections.

A. Johnkumar, last of the four Congress MLAs who recently resigned, stated following his resignation on February 16, “Through my resignation good things will happen to Pondicherry, it is because of this unshakable hope that I am resigning”.

Also read: Puducherry Minister Continues Sit-in Protest against LG Kiran Bedi, CM to Lead More Agitations

“You will all feel the effect of the four resignations,” he added without taking BJP’s name.

A. Namassivayam, the first of the four MLAs to resign, who joined the BJP, has also said “I have taken this decision keeping the development of the state in mind.”

These ministers have all along been accusing the BJP-led Centre and LG Kiran Bedi of standing in the way of welfare and development in Puducherry. However, within a short span of time they have changed their stance and are now claiming that BJP is the path for development.

The question of whether money and power has played a role in shifting sides remains yet unanswered.

BJP PLAYING NUMBER GAMES

The mere resignation of the four MLAs did not topple the majority in Puducherry.

The legislative Assembly represents thirty constituencies. Prior to the trend of MLA resignations, Congress had 14 and the DMK had three Assembly seats. Along with an independent MLA, the Congress-DMK alliance had the majority with 18 seats. 

The All India N.R. Congress and All India Annatra Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has seven and four MLAs each, which adds up to only 11.

Given the Supreme Court ruling that the central government has the power to nominate MLAs in the Puducherry Assembly, the BJP has three MLAs without contesting elections. The Court had also ruled that the nominated MLAs have the power to vote in the Assembly. Thereby, the AIADMK-AINRC-BJP alliance at present has 14 seats.

With four Congress MLAs stepping down, both the sides have 14 MLAs each. Given that the resigned MLAs have either joined the BJP or are speaking in favour of the party, it is likely that BJP used its power to bring a majority alliance in par with the opposition. 

In case the Congress-led alliance no longer has the majority, there is a high possibility of a President's rule in the UT. Such a rule ahead of the Assembly elections could favour the BJP, the ruling party at the Centre.

THE NEW LG IS AN ELECTION STRATEGY

Meanwhile, the protesting Puducherry MLAs, who accused the Union government and LG Kiran Bedi of standing in way of the UT’s development, were asking for an LG who would uphold the federal structure and constitutional guidelines, and one who wouldn’t place their politics above the people of Puducherry. However, with Tamilisai Soundararajan, Telangana Governor who is additionally appointed as the new Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, that seems difficult.

Also read: Power Tussle: Kiran Bedi ‘Obstructed’ Puducherry Governance, Claims CM

Soundararajan has contested the Lok Shabha and legislative assembly elections in the past under the BJP symbol in various constituencies of Tamil Nadu. She was also the National Secretary of BJP and President of Tamil Nadu BJP.

ADDITIONAL SYSTEMIC DISRUPTION

All along, the BJP has reportedly been intervening in the activities of the UT through its powers as the ruling party at the Centre, primarily through the Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi and its nominated MLAs. But, it has also utilised other strategies to create a favourable situation for itself prior to the Assembly elections.

The former Puducherry district collector T. Arun was tested positive for COVID-19 in December 2020. While he was getting treated for the disease he was replaced by Purva Garg. Even after Arun recovered, he was not allowed to continue in the post.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) in a statement released on December 12 condemned such a stark “official intervention” and its "political motives”.

It is important to note here that the district collector has the responsibility to carry out election duties.

The BJP’s urge to anyhow seize power in Puducherry and replace the Congress stronghold has led the saffron party to take extreme measures to attain its goal. How the desperation and hunger for power is going to play out in the coming days remains to be seen.