Kiran Bedi removed as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan has been given the additional charge of Puducherry

Kiran Bedi on Tuesday was removed as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry with President Ram Nath Kovind giving additional charge of the Union Territory to Telangana Governor Tamilisai Sundari Soundarajan.

A Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said the President has directed that Bedi "shall cease to hold the office of the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry". It also said the President has asked Soundarajan to discharge the functions of LG of Puducherry in addition to her own duties, until regular arrangements are made.

Bedi, country's first woman IPS officer and BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate in Delhi in 2015, was appointed LG on May 28, 2016.

Bedi's removal came on the day the Congress government, led by Chief Minister V Narayanasami, plunged into a minority. Bedi and Narayanasami have been at loggerheads since June 2016 when they both assumed office.

Bedi has also been accused of interfering in the day to day functioning of the government, inviting criticism from the Chief Minister. Though the reason for her sacking is not immediately known, there have been several complaints with regard to her style of functioning.

Her removal comes at a time when more Congress leaders are joining the BJP, which is trying to make inroads in Puducherry. The choice of Tamilisai Soundararajan as her replacement for now is also political.

The BJP feels the UT should have a Lt Governor who is a political person as it heads to assembly polls. Also, the BJP might want a seasoned politician to be in the Lt Gov's chair at the time of swearing in of the new government.