Puducherry assembly elections 2026: Recalling UT's political crisis of Feb 2021

A floor test was held in the Puducherry legislative assembly on February 22, 2021, for the Congress-led coalition government headed by V Narayanasamy.

Four Congress leaders had resigned as MLAs and from the party since January, reducing the numbers of Narayansamy's alliance government to 14 in the 33-seat assembly (effective strength of 28).

In a sudden development on February 16, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, Puducherry's then-lieutenant governor, was removed from the post.

Then-Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, who was given additional charge as Puducherry LG, issued orders for the floor test.

Of the Puducherry_​ Congress leaders who resigned as MLAs, two - A Namassivayam (third from right) and E Theeppainthan (extreme left) - joined the BJP.

Later, A John Kumar, the fourth Congress MLA who resigned, prompting LG Soundararajan to order the floor test, also joined the BJP.

Another Congress MLA and one from ally DMK resigned a day before the floor test, further reducing the government's numbers to just 11 against the opposition's 14. Narayansamy lost the floor test and resigned.

After the resignation, Narayanasamy accused the opposition parties BJP and All India NR Congress of bringing down his government. President's rule was imposed in Puducherry, and the NDA won the assembly elections held in April.