Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi and Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy may have refrained from making any public comments that may vitiate their working relationship any further.
But the recent public functions where they had shared the dais — the Republic Day and the observance of the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi — have given enough indications that the two constitutional heads are unable to sink their differences.
At the Republic Day function, the Chief Minister as per protocol received the Lieutenant Governor but failed to see her off after participating in the guard of honour and other ceremonial events associated with the function.
As soon as the function got over, Ms. Bedi walked back to her vehicle while Mr. Narayanasamy was exchanging pleasantries with his cabinet colleagues and legislators.
Again, at the reception hosted by Raj Nivas on the same day evening, the bonhomie between the two that existed during the initial days was missing.
On Monday, the observance of the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi brought them together again. However, there was hardly any interaction between them on this occasion either.
In between, Ms. Bedi skipped the inaugural of the 31st Flower, Vegetable and Fruit show-cum-Farm Fest 2017, another event where she was scheduled to be with the Chief Minister. The Raj Nivas clarified that the organisers had rescheduled the timing which coincided with other commitments of the Lt. Governor. Eventually, Ms. Bedi visited the venue only the following day.
AIADMK-Congress standoff
In the just concluded Assembly session a reference to an inquiry ordered by Speaker V. Vaithilingam into the alleged malpractices by members of previous All India N.R Congress in running the administration of AFT and societies brought the house to a stand-off situation between ruling Congress and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
However, more than the stand-off, what came out during the heated exchanges between ruling members and AIADMK seemed to have caught the attention of media. The AIADMK while seeking an explanation on the fate of inquiry asked the treasury bench whether they are going slow because of any tacit understanding with AINRC. “Is AINRC going to be merged with Congress?” asked AIADMK leader A. Anbazhagan.
The Congress members were quick to join issue by raising AIADMK’s bonhomie with AINRC as witnessed during the by-election. “Is the alliance over?” asked another ruling member.
At the end, the media was left wondering who is wooing whom in the rough and tumble of Puducherry politics .
( by Rajesh B. Nair )
