All is certainly not well between the Chief Minister of Puducherry and Lieutenant Governor, Kiran Bedi. “There is an absence of alignment in governance here. The intention is at variance,” Bedi told The Quint, in an email interview,
Both Kiran Bedi and Chief Minister V Narayanasamy have locked horns on several occasions in the last few months. Political rumblings in Puducherry have brought back memories of Delhi’s bitter feud between Chief Minister Kejriwal and former LG Najeeb Jung.
Also Read: Brazen Politics Behind Kiran Bedi’s Puducherry Lt Governor Post
Administrator vs Chief Minister
The war of words between Bedi and Narayanasamy escalated last week, with Congress workers allegedly putting out posters portraying LG as Hitler and Kali.
Narayanasamy condemned the incident, but he also alluded to the ongoing tussle by saying, “Had everyone followed the rulebook, such a situation would not have come about”. In a statement issued to media, Bedi described the incident as an “attempt to lower the status of office of the Lieutenant Governor”.
At the heart of the problem is the supreme authority accorded to the LG or the Administrator under the Government of Union Territories Act 1963.
Are such discretionary powers coming in the way of a harmonious relationship between the LG and chief minister?
It’s not simple, it’s more complex. He (chief minister) has compulsions which I don’t have. But again he has to make choices.Kiran Bedi, LG Puducherry
‘No Discussion on Issues When Required’
To a question whether governance is becoming a casualty with a semblance of two power centres, Kiran Bedi replied:
It (governance) is a casualty because there is no discussion on several issues when required.
The chief minister has alleged that the delay by LG’s office in clearing files is hampering the work of state government with welfare schemes and development projects being hit. Bedi, however, refutes all such allegations.
Files are not delayed. But there is no discussion. There is no meeting of minds, there is no alignment.Kiran Bedi, LG Puducherry
Row Over Nominating Three BJP Leaders
Congress was up in arms over the LG’s recent move to nominate three BJP leaders to the Assembly, with Kiran Bedi administering oath to new members on 4 July. The nomination was later rejected by the speaker on 10 July. While the Congress described the move as “undemocratic,” Bedi justifies her decision by saying that she was following due procedure after a complaint by the nominees.
On the nomination of three BJP leaders, Kiran Bedi told The Quint:
It was strictly as per the law. And also according to the situation at that time. I administered the oath only when the nominees complained in writing that the Speaker was not administering the oath to them. And they were not sure if he would do so at all and requested me to do by using my powers.
“I asked them if they were ready. They said yes if it’s done in the next half hour as it’s auspicious. I told them that there shall be no fanfare. No time to invite anyone. Not even their families. They said it was acceptable to them,” she said.
She also justifies her actions as the need of the hour.
I administered the oath. And simplified a complex matter. It was becoming a law and order issue otherwise. It took the wind out of everyone’s sails. And I prevented a law and order issue from becoming full blown.
Legal Battle Awaits Puducherry?
A clarification, issued by the Home Ministry in June, had upheld the superiority of the LG over the chief minister and cabinet. However, there seems to be no end in sight for the clash of egos in Puducherry.
Despite the Centre backing the LG, the defence of Congress rests on Article 240(1) of the Constitution – that gives precedence to the Legislature.
Bedi has surely won round one with the NDA government justifying the LG’s decisions so far, even as the state government cries foul over “interference” in day-to-day functioning.
But will the legal battle put an end to the face-off between Constitutional head and elected representative of Puducherry? “One does not exclude the other. The roles are very clearly defined,” Bedi says when asked about the allegations of “interference”.
But the CM has not respected this clarification. He says it is a mere interpretation and that they will challenge this in the higher courts.
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