Setting the stage for an endgame in the ongoing confrontation with Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi, legislators, including those from the principal Opposition — the AINRC and the AIADMK (Amma) — wanted the government to adopt a resolution urging the Union government to recall Ms. Bedi.
Legislators belonging to the ruling Congress, the DMK and the AIADMK on Monday urged the government to send across a message to the Union government that it would boycott the upcoming Presidential poll if Ms. Bedi was not removed. A lone member of AINRC had also extended his support in case the government proposed to move a resolution.
The idea to link Ms. Bedi’s ouster with the Presidential poll was proposed by AIADMK leader A. Anbalagan when Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy was giving a strong response to the Lt. Governor’s latest diatribe against him on social media.
Mr. Anbalagan intervened to suggest that merely giving a statement would not bring any difference and the way out was to adopt a resolution stating that members would not participate in the Presidential poll if the Lt. Governor was not recalled.
Social Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy, his party legislators K. Lakshminarayanan, R.K.R. Anantharaman, DMK member R. Siva and AINRC member T.P.R. Selvame agreed to the suggestion of passing a resolution.
Mr. Siva urged Speaker V. Vaithilingam to suspend the proceedings of the House for a few minutes to discuss the issue so that a resolution could be adopted on Monday itself.
The Speaker agreed to consider the request if a written request was made on the issue.
AINRC walks out
The issue also led to a walkout by AINRC members N.S.J Jayabal and Ashok Anand, though three fellow members — T.P.R Selvame, S.V. Sugumaran and B. Kobiga — of his party decided to remain in the House. Before staging a walkout, Mr. Jayabal and Mr. Ashok Anand entered into a heated exchange with the Treasury Bench.
Mr. Jayabal said even though he does not approve of what Ms. Bedi does on all issues, the government’s failure to address problems with Centac admission led to her intervention.
The Chief Minister countered saying it was to the credit of the ruling party that seats were secured from private management this academic year and that admissions were done in a transparent manner.
The government had already taken steps to get the students admitted to the allotted colleges before Ms. Bedi had intervened.
At this juncture, Mr. Ashok Anand said the admission process was not done in a transparent manner and there was corruption involved. Challenging Mr. Anand to prove the charge, the Chief Minister said it was during the previous N.R Congress regime that seats were sold for crores of rupees.
Coming to the defence of the Chief Minister, Mr. Kandasamy said Mr. Anand had no right to speak about morality as a Central Bureau of Investigation team was investigating corruption charges against him and his father.
