Kiran Bedi versus V Narayanasamy: Here's what the Puducherry political row is all about

Political equations between Lieutenant-Governor Kiran Bedi and Chief Minister V Narayanasamy in Puducherry have been tense for a while now. In January this year, Congress and DMK MLAs demanded that the Centre recall Bedi, accusing her having a “dictatorial” style of functioning which bypassed the elected legislature. Bedi had last month met Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi and apprised him of the “constraints” she faced in serving the Union Territory. Last year, Bedi had threatened to quit and leave the Union Territory if there was no improvement in the situation. But what began the latest open conflict between Bedi and Narayanasamy was the issue of post-graduate medical courses in Puducherry. [caption id=“attachment_3523051” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Puducherry LG Kiran Bedi (left) and Chief Minister V Narayanasamy. News18[/caption] Bedi had on 30 May conducted a surprise inspection of the counselling process by the Centralised Admission Committee in Puducherry and directed officials to ensure that 50 percent of seats available under government quota were filled and not given to private colleges or under all-India quota. After that, Narayanasamy had last week criticised Bedi for her directions to officials involved in the ongoing counselling process for post-graduate medical courses and had accused her of adopting a “misleading approach” on the matter. Making a statement in the state Assembly on 2 June, he had alleged that Bedi was criticising ministers and officials on social media and that she should stop making “derogatory remarks”. This row intensified on Monday as Bedi asked whether Narayanasamy wanted a rubber stamp or a responsible administrator for the post of lieutenant-governor whereas the chief minister accused Bedi of paralysing the administration. “The chief minister desired a lieutenant-governor who is a mere endorser and a person who may let wrongs happen even when people are suffering injustice,” PTI quoted Bedi as saying. “He wants a lieutenant-governor who is just an onlooker and passes time and enjoys benefits of expensive establishment called Raj Nivas without meeting people or questioning officers and would do what he tells even in writing,” she said in a Whatsapp message in a group comprising media persons and eminent personalities. “People are crying for justice, students and parents are crying for admissions as per the orders of Government of India and higher judiciary,” she said, asking who would hear them and speak for them. She said Raj Nivas was now becoming their last hope. “Does he want a rubber stamp or a responsible administrator?” she said. Later on Monday, members belonging to the ruling Congress, the DMK and the opposition AIADMK (Amma) alleged in the Puducherry Assembly that Bedi had been making unbridled comments against the ministry, officials and legislators. They asked the chief minister to ensure that effective steps were taken to end the trend of the lieutenant-governor criticising the elected representatives. R Siva (DMK) and Government Whip RKR Anandaraman drew the attention of the House to the “objectionable” comments of the lieutenant-governor and referred to the WhatsApp message. Welfare Minister M Kandasamy said, “Bedi has been intolerant towards the elected ministry.” “She is projecting herself as a mouthpiece of the BJP.” “Nothing could be done by government ever since she became the lieutenant-governor,” the minister claimed. He also appealed to Speaker V Vaithilingam to arrange for a joint meeting of all Puducherry MLAs with the president, prime minister and Union home minister to apprise them of the “hurdles” Bedi has been creating in smooth functioning of the government. Responding to the MLAs’ views, Narayanasamy said it was indeed “disturbing that Bedi has been making “uncontrolled comments against the ministry, officials and legislators.” “She is paralysing the work of the elected ministry in Puducherry,” he said. Several important decisions of the Cabinet were left hanging following the return of files by the lieutenant-governor, he added. Narayanasamy said no official should hereafter accompany Bedi during her weekend visits to constituencies without getting prior permission from the concerned ministers. “I would only appeal to the legislators to picket the lieutenant-governor whenever she comes to their constituencies without intimating them,” he said, maintaining that she was “only after publicity” by making such visits. He took strong exception to Bedi “trying to paint a bad image about the government among the public”. He also read out statutory provisions to drive home the point that a lieutenant-governor can only aid and advise elected ministry and could not overstep her limits on any count. Opposition AINRC member NSJ Jayabal, however, said the “whole chaos in the government has arisen because of failure of the elected ministry to do administrative works properly.” This irked Naryanasamy who levelled allegations against the previous AINRC government and asked Jayabal to come out with firm evidence before finding fault with the government. When the chief minister was criticising Bedi, AIADMK (Amma) legislature party leader A Anbalagan wanted a resolution to be passed to recall her. Siva wanted the speaker to adjourn the proceedings and adopt a resolution urging the Centre to intervene and punish Bedi. Vaithilingam asked members to first prepare the resolution and place it on the table of the House. With inputs from PTI