Kiran Bedi, the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, tweeted a series of posters lampooning her.
Kiran Bedi, the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, this morning tweeted a series of posters lampooning her. The former police officer is Hitler and Goddess Kali in these posters, which have apparently been taken out by members of the ruling Congress.
The posters were reportedly printed for a Congress protest to demand Ms Bedi's exit; the party has described her as dictatorial after several clashes in recent weeks.The posters add a bizarre twist to the turf war between the Congress government of V Narayanasamy and Ms Bedi ever since she took office in May last year.
"These are in real poor taste. They are an attempt at lowering the status of the office of the Lieutenant Governor," said Ms Bedi to NDTV, adding, "Respectful means of protest can be found without disrespecting constitutional offices."
The latest dispute between the Chief Minister and the Lieutenant Governor is over BJP leaders being nominated as lawmakers on the recommendation of the union home ministry, which Ms Bedi represents in Puducherry. Ms Bedi administered the oath of office to three men, including two BJP office bearers, as nominated legislators. A furious Congress said it is the job of the ruling party to nominate lawmakers and of the Speaker to administer the oath of office.
Last month, the Puducherry assembly upped its ante by unanimously adopting a resolution seeking to restrict the powers of the Lieutenant Governor.Ms Bedi went public with her resentment and said in a press release: "It be understood that as an LG (Lieutenant Governor) all the responsibilities I am carrying out are as per the nature of my work here. I am designated both as an LG and an Administrator because Puducherry is a UT(Union Territory)."
But Chief Minister Narayanasamy argued that she should act in "consultation and concurrence" of the elected ministry.