Even as theLieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi embarked on a five-day tour to Karaikal , Chandirapriyanga, legislator belonging to the Opposition AINRC, on Tuesday expressed her dissent over Lt Governor and the Ministers visiting her constituency without fulfilling aspirations of the people. She also threatened to launch a mass protest on the lines of the Jallikattu movement.
An unusually combative Chandirapriyanga released a video expressing her resentment over the delay in implementing welfare and development measures owing to the standoffbetween the Lt Governor and the government.
In the video, released to the media on Mondaywhen Ms. Bedi reached Karaikal, Ms. Chandirapriyanga vented her anger onboth the Lt Governor and the Ministers for not carrying out welfare measures in her constituency despite repeated reminders. “Please don’t come if you are not able to do anything,” she said.
Ms. Chandirapriyanga, who had been hobnobbing with ruling party for some time, said she was not in favour of mobilising the public to stage a protest since it would affect their livelihood. “However, if need arises I would mobilise the youth for organising a mass protest on Karaikal beach like the pro-Jallikattu movement held at the Marina,” she said.
The legislator said, “if the Lt Governor believes she has the real power, she should implement schemes and in case the elected government believes it has the ultimate power, it should run the administration.”
Calls for a debate
She urged the titular head and the elected government to appear ona live debate to prove who was withholding the files pertaining to important decisions.
Though Ms. Chandirapriyanga had blamed both Ms. Bedi and the Cabinet for the administrative mess, the timing of the threat to launch a mass protest assumed great significance. Earlier, the public had voiced dissent when the Lt Governor toured Bahour constituency represented by Social Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy.
Both the Minister and the legislator belong to the same community and enjoyed a good working relationship as the Minister considered Ms. Chandirapriyanga’s father, Chandrakasu, as his political mentor.
Of late, the ruling establishment had adopted an aggressive stand against the Lt Governor with an umbrella of Dalit organisations organising a day long fast against Ms. Bedi very recently.
Mr. Kandasamy had upped the ante against Ms Bedi by complaining to the President and even threatened to stage a fast in New Delhi as a mark of protest against Lt Governor’s interference in day to day administration.