One more Cong MLA quits in Pondy; govt's strength drops to 13

One more ruling Congress MLAin Puducherry resigned from his post on Sunday, delivering yetanother jolt to Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, who isscheduled to face a floor test on February 22 to provemajority.

K Lakshminarayanan, elected from the Raj Bhavanconstituency, tendered his resignation to Assembly Speaker V PSivakolundhu at the latter's residence.

Later, he told reporters that ''this government led byNarayanasamy has lost majority.'' Lakshminarayanan said he has also resigned from theparty membership.

Following his resignation, the second this week, theCongress' strength further slipped to 13, while the oppositionhas 14 MLAs in the 33-member house which has five vacancies.

Four Congress MLAs--including ex-ministers ANamassivayam (now in BJP) and Malladi Krishna Rao had quit,while another party legislator was earlier disqualified.

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, handedover additional charge of Puducherry, had on Thursday directedNarayanasamy to prove majority by ordering a floor test onFebruary 22.

Lakshminarayanan's resignation comes on a day when theruling party members are slated to meet under the CM todiscuss the future course of action though similar discussionson February 18 yielded no results.