On Thursday, Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanswamy called Lt Governor Kiran Bedi an “agent of the BJP” following her move to nominate three BJP members as MLAs. To this accusation, Bedi responded saying that she was an “agent of the law” and was functioning according to that, reported ANI.
Narayanswamy accused Bedi of going against the ethics of cooperative federalism, asking, as quoted by ANI:
How can a Governor nominate MLAs without consulting the elected government? Without consulting the Chief Minister or Council of Ministers... it is illegal, unconstitutional.
Kiran Bedi tweeted in response to the allegations:
On Wednesday, the Congress party rallied in the Puducherry Legislative Assembly over Bedi’s nomination of three BJP members – V Saminathan, KG Shankar and S Selvaganapathy to the post of MLA.
As a rule, it is the Speaker who directs the oath of office, but in this case it was delivered by the Lt Governor on directions of the Union Home Ministry. Many parties, including the DMK, have called for a shutdown on 8 July, reported ANI.
Bedi held her own, and issued a statement, as reported by ANI, in which she said:
According to the Union Territories Act the nomination of three MLAs to Puducherry Legislative Assembly is to be done by the central government and it only says this and nothing more.
Bedi tweeted:
Moreover, the Lt Governor justified her move saying that it is the Ministry of Home Affairs that sends the name to the Puducherry Government, which then notifies it.
Bedi said, “The oath is and can be administered by Administrator. Hence the nomination and the oath is/was laid down under the UT Act. (sic)” Bedi also stated that those who demand an explanation of the legal position are welcome to read the act.
(With inputs from ANI)
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