Kiran Bedi removed as Governor of Puducherry as UT faces political turmoil

New Delhi, Feb 16 : Kiran Bedi has been removed as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said on Tuesday.
Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan will hold additional charge of the Union Territory, it said.
However Bedi’s removal came in the wake of the Union Territory witnessing political turmoil with a number of Congress legislators leaving the party in quick succession.
“The President has directed that Dr. Kiran Bedi shall cease to hold the office of the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry and has appointed Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, Governor of Telangana, to discharge the functions of the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry, in addition to her own duties, with effect from the date she assumes charge of her office, until regular arrangements for the office of Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry are made,” the communique said.
Bedi’s removal comes in the wake of political turmoil in the state over the last few weeks. The Congress in Puducherry has seen four among its senior-most leaders and MLAs resign, including senior leader and former PWD minister A Namasivayam.
On Tuesday its Kamarajnagar MLA A. John Kumar also quit the party.