The opposition AIADMK has urged President Ram Nath Kovind to recall Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi for tarnishing the image of the Centre and misusing the administrative machinery for her selfish motives against the government.
AIADMK Legislature Party leader A. Anbalagan told presspersons here on Monday that an extraordinary situation had arisen in the Union Territory because of the ongoing turf war between Ms. Bedi and Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy. The current agitation by Mr. Narayanasamy and his Cabinet colleagues along with the Congress and DMK MLAs was only a culmination of the tussle between the two constitutional heads over the last two-and-a-half years.
Even as the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues had been on an indefinite dharna, perhaps with an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Ms. Bedi’s autocratic style of functioning had brought disrepute to the Centre.
The Lt. Governor summoned paramilitary forces to Puducherry creating a fear psychosis among the public. If she continued in the post, she would cause more damage to the image of the Centre, he said.
The President should immediately recall her and appoint a new incumbent to the U.T. for maintaining law and order. The Lt. Governors of Andaman and Nicobar Islands or the Governors of neighbouring States could be given additional charge of Puducherry.
Mr. Anbalagan pointed out that life was thrown out of gear because of the current developments.