There is no procedural violation in writing to Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi, seeking her consent to invite floor leaders of political parties for the last Saturday’s State Planning Board meeting, Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy has said.
“As Vice-Chairman of the board, I have every right to invite members as special invitees. The Lt. Governor can agree or disagree with the proposal to the invitation. Ms. Bedi cannot take refuge on the pretext that the file did not come through the Secretary Planning and Chief Secretary,” the Chief Minister told The Hindu after having deliberations with MLAs at the Legislative Assembly on Monday.
The State Planning Board meeting on July 6 had ended abruptly after the Chief Minister, Ministers and MPs staged a walkout over the denial of invitation to floor leaders of Opposition parties in the Legislative Assembly by Ms. Bedi. The Lt. Governor had, the other day, cited procedural violations in processing the file for not giving the nod to invite the members. “At the meeting, when the members raised protest against her decision, the Lt. Governor volunteered to invite the floor leaders.
She said the meeting can be withheld for a few hours for the arrival of the floor leaders,” the Chief Minister said.
L-G’s offer
Mr. Narayanasamy sought to know from the Lt. Governor why she volunteered to withhold the meeting if there was a procedural violation.
“I did not agree to her suggestion to hold the meeting for a few hours. The legislators are not at her beck and call. They have to be properly invited. Hence the walkout,” he said.
The Lt. Governor did not want the members of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to be present as both the parties had opposed her remarks made in connection with the Chennai drinking water crisis, he added.