Narayanasamy is alleging that the LG has no power to nominate MLAs without consulting the elected govt
The fight between the Congress-led Puducherry government and Lt Governor Kiran Bedi has hit a new low with Chief Minister V Narayanasamy terming Bedi as an "agent of the BJP government at the Centre" by nominating three BJP-affiliated persons as MLAs bypassing the elected government.
The Madras High Court has issued a notice to the Ministry of Home Affairs, three MLAs and Puducherry government in the case filed by the ruling Congress MLA Lakshminarayanan challenging the nomination of the MLAs bypassing the elected government while Bedi maintained that the nomination was done as per the Union Territories Act.
In an unusual move, Bedi on Tuesday night administered the oath of office to BJP's Puducherry unit president and treasurer V Saminathan and KG Shankar, and S Selvaganapathy, an educationist affiliated to RSS. The nomination of the three MLAs comes after BJP president Amit Shah's two-day visit to the union territory last week to devise the strategy for the growth of the party ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Narayanasamy questioned the Bedi's decision to swear-in herself violating the established convention of the Assembly Speaker administering the oath. He also noted that the LG has no power to nominate MLAs without consulting the elected government. He, moreover, said that there were criminal cases pending against the two of the MLAs. "She has no interest in the development of the Puducherry. Rather being the LG of Puducherry, she is acting as an agent of the BJP," he accused. He pointed out that Mr Saminathan who had contested the Assembly polls in 2016 was rejected by the people and he had even lost his deposit.
"For those who are seeking more information on legal provisions on appointment of three MLAs to Legislative Assembly in Puducherry. According to the Union Territories Act, the nomination of the three MLAs to the Assembly is to be done by Central Government," Bedi said, noting that the oath could be administered by the administrator.
A senior Congress leader said that LG's nomination of three MLAs from the majority Hindu community has violated long-held convention of nominating persons from minority communities to the Assembly.
Meanwhile, four parties – DMK., CPM, CPI and VCK jointly called for a 12-hour bandh here on July 8 to register their protest over the issue.
CM VS LG
- Narayanasamy is alleging that the LG has no power to nominate MLAs without consulting the elected govt.
- Bedi claims that as per law, the nomination of the three MLAs to the Assembly is to be done by the Centre
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