PUDUCHERRY: Charging Lt Governor Virendra Kataria of acting in a high-handed manner by ignoring the elected government, the BJP state state unit on Friday demanded his recall at the earliest.
The BJP state president Visweswaran told reporters here that the party had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh urging them to recall Kataria as his actions were against the spirit of the Constitution. The party had also sought the cancellation of the order for setting up a sub-centre of Lalit Kala Akademi in Puducherry with one of L-G’s family member as honorary convener, he added.
According to him, the L-G was not respecting the elected government and was acting on his own in administrative matters. “He (Kataria) is running a parallel government and interfering in the administrative issues without consulting Chief Minister N Rangasamy, elected by the people,” he said.
Further, Visweswaran alleged that Raj Nivas, the LG’s official residence, was being used as a Congress party office.
In his view, the L-G should consult the Chief Minister on matters of administration, instead of direct involvement. If there are any shortcomings, the L-G should advise the Chief Minister to correct them.
The BJP leader ducked a question as to whether the L-G’s intervention was wrong at a juncture when the law and order situation was deteriorating.
Interestingly, the BJP also criticised the ruling All India NR Congress’ inability to check the deteriorating law and order situation.
Only after the L-G’s firm intervention, the situation was brought under control.
The ruling AINRC managed an alliance with the BJP and got its nominee, R Radhakrishnan elected to the lone Lok Sabha seat trouncing the Congress’ V Narayanasamy.