Congress govt in Puducherry to face floor test on Monday

The Congress government in Puducherry will face a test of strength on Monday, Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan said, citing the opposition's stand that the ruling party no longer enjoyed a majority. Just months before an election, the state government is believed to have lost its thin majority after four recent resignations, though Chief Minister V Narayanasamy denies this. He insists that two of those resignations are yet to be accepted.Ms Soundararajan, who took charge as Lieutenant Governor on Wednesday after Kiran Bedi's sudden removal, said a floor test was needed to ascertain whether the Congress government enjoys a majority. The vote will take place by 5 pm on Monday. 

A statement said the Lieutenant Governor had conveyed to Narayanasamy that the assembly would meet for a "single agenda, namely whether the government of the incumbent Chief Minister continues to enjoy the confidence of the House."Of the 30 elected MLAs in the assembly, the Congress had 15 members and, along with the DMK's three and one independent member, was just past the majority mark of 16.After the resignations, the government and the opposition both are at 14. The Congress has 10 members, leaving the government one short of the majority mark, which has dropped to 15 with the assembly strength coming down to 28.