The Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) has demanded that the ruling All India NR Congress (AINRC) allocate the lone Rajya Sabha seat in the Union Territory to the BJP when the tenure of the incumbent, Congress leader P.Kannan ends in September.
Though the demand of BJP has been doing rounds in the political circles for past few weeks, BJP unit president M.Visweswaran confirmed it at a press conference held on Friday.
Mr. Visweswaran is the lone nominated member representing BJP among 33 members of Puducherry Legislative Assembly. Seventeen members belong to ruling AINRC, seven members to Congress, five to AIADMK and two to DMK.
In an alliance with BJP, the ruling AINRC fielded its candidate R. Radhakrishnan in Lok Sabha polls and won with a huge margin. Immediately after Lok Sabha Election, Mr. Visweswaran was made nominated member of Legislative Assembly.
“There is nothing wrong for BJP to seek allocation of Rajya Sabha seat to a representative of the party. Our aspiration to get Rajya Sabha seat is our moral right and none can fault us for the demand which is justifiable one,” said Mr. Visweswaran adding that the demand was put forth to AINRC president and Chief Minister N.Rangasamy when Union Minister for State Pon. Radhakrishnan and party general secretary H.Raja visited Puducherry recently.
Stating that BJP had extended support to the AINRC candidate in Lok Sabha polls, Mr. Visweswaran added that then AINRC became part of National Democratic Alliance and hence in return AINRC can reciprocate by allocating the Rajya Sabha seat to BJP.
Mr. Visweswaran said he met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh two days ago in New Delhi and urged him to appoint fulltime Lieutenant Governor to the Union Territory.
“There should be permanent arrangement in the Union Territory as it has Assembly of elected representatives. Either present incumbent A.K.Singh should be made full-time Lieutenant Governor or some other person has to be appointed on as full time basis,” the BJP leader said.
Replying queries of reporters on status of Lieutenant Governor in the Union Territory, Mr. Visweswaran said, “He always has upper hand and final authority in administration. The council of ministers headed by Chief Minister can advise him. There should not be any confrontation.”
