Congress's drama in Puducherry results in removal of LG Kiran Bedi
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Puducherry, Feb 17: The President of India, Ramnath Kovind, asked Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi to resign from the office on Feb 16, due to the political turmoil that was triggered in the union territory because of Congress leaders. The Chief Minister of Puducherry, V Narayanasamy has termed removal of the LG as 'victory of the people', whereas Bedi has shared an emotional note to the people of Puducherry and the Govt of India before her exit.
According to the statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan, post exit of Kiran Bedi as the LG of Puducherry, the Governor of Telengana Tamilisai Soundarajan will shoulder the responsibility of being the constitutional head of the UT. Soundarajan will discharge duties as the LG of Puducherry, in addition to her own duties, until a new appointment is made. Rashtrapati Bhavan's statement read, "The President has directed that Dr Kiran Bedi, shall cease to hold office of the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry and has appointed Dr Tamilisai Soundarajan, Governor of Telangana, to discharge the functions of the Lieutenant Governor, in addition to her own duties, with effect from the date she assumes charge of her office , until regular arrangements for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry are made."
The political condition in the union territory had become vulnerable lately. Puducherry Social Welfare Minister Kandaswamy had stated earlier on the same day that CM Narayanasamy lead Cabinet will resign after the resignations of the Congress legislators in Puducherry, ahead of the assembly elections. He said, "PM narendra Modi and Puducherry LG Kiran Bedi have been harassing the Congress govt for four and a half years. They are trying to dissolve the regime. We are working to dissolve the cabinet headed by CM Narayanasamy and win the assembly elections again." The current Congress led govt in Puducherry is in a devastated state as earlier another MLA from Kamrajnagar constituency, A John Kumar had resigned citing 'dissatisfaction with the government.'
Puducherry CM K Narayanasamy has accepted that Bedi was removed due to political pressure created by Congress on the Centre. He reasons the party's stand stating that Dr Kiran Bedi was hampering the growth of Puducherry. He said, "We have been battling against Kiran Bedi for the last two years. We wanted her to be removed for unconstitutional behavior, interfering in the day-to-day activities of the administration, ignoring the elected govt and not following the rules and procedure. We launched several agitations against her. We also organized signature campaigns for her removal." However, the statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan doesn't mention any of the causes that the Chief Minister has addressed for the removal of Dr Kiran Bedi. The political turmoil in the UT ahead of the assembly elections remains to be the main cause of Dr Kiran Bedi's removal from her office.
Puducherry LG Dr Kiran Bedi, on the other hand, has shared her emotions through a notice stating that 'Team Raj Nivas' diligently worked to serve larger public interest in the union territory during her tenure. She said in her notice, "I thank the government of India for a lifetime experience in serving Puducherry as its Lieutenant Governor. I also thank all who worked with me closely. I can say with a deep sense of satisfaction that during this tenure 'Team Raj Nivas' diligently worked to serve the larger public interest in the UT of Puducherry." Bedi firmly states that "Whatever was done was a sacred duty, fulfilling my constitutional and moral responsibility. Puducherry has a very bright future. It's now in the hands of the people. Wishing for a prosperous Puducherry."