Mind games are in full play in this otherwise peaceful city where the constitutional head is at the crossroads of determining who has the governance rights.
Within hours of advocating a town hall type debate with Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi was projecting the image of an administrative head who is sure of her footing.
This, when all across the political spectrum, national leaders were expressing solidarity with Mr. Narayanasamy.
Asked why the meeting with Chief Minister did not take place, Ms. Bedi said: “We would have discussed with the Chief Minister if he had come with his colleagues. But he laid unacceptable conditions. Like the venue of his choice, who will come and who all will not be acceptable. It was conveyed to him that this invite on his request and he cannot make it conditional. Since he did not come, the cause of his petition with our reply has been released.”
Taking time off
At the height of this political drama, the Chief Minister took time off from an unprecedented agitation in front of the Raj Nivas gates and distribute degrees to students at a Pondicherry Central University convocation while Ms. Bedi took to cycling within the lawns of Raj Nivas.
Meanwhile, tourists on a weekend seem to have no clue of the brewing political crisis.
With national focus expected to home in on Puducherry starting Monday, some of them may take back non-touristy moments from the city.
