Newsable Exclusive: So what if BJP appointed me, won't overlook corruption, says Lt Governor Kiran Bedi

Lt Governor Kiran Bedi and Puducherry CM  V Narayanaswamy are in a bitter fight.  Correspondent R Rajagopalan spoke to both sides to get a clear picture. While the fights seem to have no end, it is feared it will end up toppling the govt of the territory. 

The political fight between the Lt Governor and the Chief Minister of Puducherry has now reached the doorsteps of both the Rashtrapathi Bhavan and South Block in New Delhi.

Lt Governor Kiran Bedi has raised certain moral questions, which she believes have legal backings. At the same time, Chief Minister V Narayanaswamy claims that since he is elected by people, he certainly cannot back down.

This tug of war is like a soap opera. Both sides have reasons. But who will bell the cat? 

The answer is none. The drama continues.

Lt Governor Bedi arrived in New Delhi with lots of 'facts and figures' and allegations of maladministration in Puducherry. Her goal is to present the same to the President of India, Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister.

In an exclusive chat, the former Indian Police Service Officer told Asianet Newsable, that she knows her powers as Lt Governor. 

As per Acts passed by Parliament in 1958, she said, I am empowered as Lt Governor to return files on the appointments of senior officials to the Chief Minister for further considerations. 

Bedi blamed Chief Minister V Narayanaswamy, stating that he was obstructing her from discharging her duties as Lt Governor of Puducherry.  

"I am frank, transparent and free to meet any officials of the State Government," said Lt Governor Bedi. "I will place all the facts before President and the Prime Minister about the illegalities, maladministration. "

"I am the representative of the President and Prime Minister, the eye and ears of the President. Can I overlook corruption?" commented  Kiran Bedi.

What made Kiran Bedi take on V Narayanaswamy?

This secret is now out. Kiran Bedi, according to a source close to her, was reading the file notings of her predecessors Iqbal Singh and Virendra Kataria. Kiran Bedi had taken notes while studying those bulky files and is not reportedly correlating her notes with Narayanaswamy's dispensations. Kiran Bedi is said to have found many similarities of illegalities and corrupt methods, being adopted by the present Government. 

This correspondent understands that Kiran Bedi took the decision to state in her monthly report that the appointments made by the territory's ministers and Chief Minister all were illegal. 

During the Governors Conference, held in the Rashtrapathi Bhavan, Kiran Bedi is believed to have spoken at length about the malfunctions of the Narayanaswamy Government.  

"Am I different from Najib Jung?" questions Kiran Bedi. Najib Jung, as Lt Governor of Delhi, questioned the 'illegalities' of the Arvind Kejriwal government.

"So what if I am a BJP nominee? Should I not speak the truth? I am trained by many stalwarts. Encouraged by Jayaprakash  Narain thoughts and Anna Hazare movement on corruption." Bedi added strongly. 

Will this soap opera between Lt Governor and Chief Minister end?

It is highly unlikely that there will be a meeting point between the CM and the Governor, especially considering how the Delhi media reportage is consuming reams of papers, and the joy TV correspondents have in taking bytes from Kiran Bedi - and then rushing to Narayanaswamy.

Why is CM Narayanaswamy is scared?

Narayanaswamy presents the other side of the story which is also interesting. In a chat with this correspondent for Asianet Newsable, the Chief Minister squarely blamed everything on the Lt Governor. 

"How can Kiran Bedi visit an MLA's constituency? She is being authorised by whom? The MLA has been elected by the people." the CM stated. "I have instructed MLAs and District Collectors to avoid the Lt Governor's public functions," the CM told this correspondent on the record. 

"Kiran Bedi is acting against the norms.  I, myself, have been a Union Minister and have seen the Central Administration. I have also been an MP and MLA - answerable to the public. Who is Kiran Bedi? How can she intrude into my domain?" the CM demanded to know in a high pitch. 

"No tall leader can put an end to this fist fight.  I will present my case before President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I have already briefed Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. In the coming monsoon session of Parliament, the Congress will raise the role of Kiran Bedi," said CM Narayanaswamy.

(R Rajagopalan is a senior journalist and political commentator based in Delhi. The opinions expressed here are his own and do not reflect the views of Asianet Newsable.)