Rahul Gandhi in Puducherry today to launch Cong’s election campaign

On Tuesday, the Congress lost majority in the 33-member assembly after an MLA resigned. Later in the evening, Kiran Bedi was removed as the lieutenant governor

A day after high drama in Puducherry, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be in the Union Territory today to launch his party’s campaign for the April- May elections which will be held alongside neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. (ANI)

On Tuesday, the Congress government in Puducherry lost majority in the 33-member assembly after yet another MLA resigned. Later in the evening, Kiran Bedi was removed from the post of the lieutenant governor of the Union Territory. This move came days after chief minister V Narayanasamy met President Ramnath Kovind to recall Bedi who he accused of interfering in day-to-day governance. Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundarrajan, who is a former BJP chief in Tamil Nadu, has been given additional charge of Puducherry.

While it was a small win for the chief minister, who called it “a victory for Puducherry people”, trouble for his party is far from over with a spate of resignations and defections. Since January, four MLAs have resigned -- two of whom flew to Delhi and joined the BJP. As of now, the Congress-led alliance, including the DMK, and the Opposition have 14 members each.

Next week, Gandhi is slated to be in Tamil Nadu for three days in his third visit to the state this year.