PUDUCHERRY: Amid a simmering power struggle with Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi announced that she would relinquish office on May 29, 2018 when she completes two years in the Union Territory. “I have given myself a tenure here,” said Bedi in her first “open letter to fellow Puducherrians”, adding that she has informed seniors about her decision.
But for this surprise declaration, the first open letter – there would be one a month hereafter, she said – reads like a statement of facts and purpose. That, however, is only half the story in the drama unfolding in the UT. For the rest, one needs to listen to the little birdies on her social media account. The latest flash point was Narayanasamy asking officials not to be part of WhatsApp groups she had formed, citing security concerns. Bedi hit back by nullifying the order.
“A well-knit officers network painstakingly nurtured disbanded in violation of GOI social network policy,” she posted on her personal Twitter account. This was duly retweeted by her official account. It was only one among a series of tweets she sent out, protesting the ‘gagging’.
As Express had reported on Saturday, some of the key welfare schemes are pending with her, which has irked the UT government. “Am in Puducherry to ensure financial prudence. Public moneys will be spent where most needed.
Every bit will b open for scrutiny (SIC),” she tweeted, apparently in response to the pain points. In her letter, Bedi reminded that while the elected territorial assembly has power to legislate, “On several other matters, final powers in areas of finance or service matters, or policy matters as per the Law the final responsibility rests with me… I have exercised financial prudence and not allowed any diversion of funds.”