## Puducherry Assembly Dissolved: Summary
The Puducherry Legislative Assembly was dissolved on February 22, 2024, following a Union Cabinet decision approved by President Droupadi Murmu. This action comes ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and effectively places the Union Territory under President’s Rule.
The dissolution was prompted by the resignation of three more Congress MLAs – A. John Kumar, C. Jayakumar, and P.R. Siva – who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These resignations followed earlier defections, significantly eroding the strength of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
Prior to the dissolution, the assembly consisted of 30 elected members and three nominated members. With the recent resignations, the Congress’s strength dwindled to just two MLAs. The BJP, along with its allies including the All India NR Congress (AINRC), now holds a majority.
Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan had recommended the assembly’s dissolution to the Union Home Ministry, citing the instability and the inability to form a stable government. The Home Ministry then forwarded the recommendation to the Union Cabinet.
This marks the culmination of a period of political turmoil in Puducherry, which began with the resignation of V. Narayanasamy as Chief Minister in February 2021 following a series of defections from the Congress party. A BJP-led government, headed by N. Rangasamy, was subsequently formed, but it operated with a thin majority and faced ongoing challenges.
The President’s Rule will be in effect until elections are held. The Election Commission of India will determine the schedule for the assembly elections, which are expected to be held concurrently with the Lok Sabha polls. The dissolution paves the way for a fresh mandate from the people of Puducherry and a new government formation. The current situation reflects a significant shift in the political landscape of the Union Territory, favoring the BJP and its allies.
