Lack of development in Pondy due to CM-Lt Governor feud: AINRC

Lack of development in Pondy due to CM-Lt Governor feud: AINRC Puducherry, Apr 9 (PTI): Former Puducherry Chief Minister and leader of the opposition N Rangasamy (AINRC) Tuesday charged Chief Minister and senior Congress leader V Narayanasamy with being responsible for the lack of development of the union territory because of his running feud with Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi on administrative matters. He made the charge while campaigning for AINRC nominee and doctor-turned-politician K Narayanasamy in neighbouring Villianoor and a few villages in its surroundings for the April 18 Lok Sabha polls.

Rangasamy said, "There is good scope for development here, but the running feud has been obstructing development." The problem of unemployment has not been tackled by the territorial government and educated youth were left jobless. Also, Rangasamy pointed out to the cooperative sugar mill here was closed as there was no proper planning.

He alleged the present Congress government was trying to hand over the mill to private sector which would be disastrous to farmers. He said the Chief Minister had been claiming success in persuading the Centre to include the union territory in the list of smart cities.

"The smart city project was earmarked for Puducherry when I was the Chief Minister and there is no justification for the present government to make any claim," Rangasamy said. "It is indeed amusing that Narayanasamy is holding Bedi responsible for the delay in the implementation of welfare schemes," he said.

The Chief Minister was aware that only the Lieutenant Governor of a union territory has more powers under the Constitution, and that smooth and cordial ties with the Lieutenant Governor were necessary for a government to function, Rangasamy said. He accused the Chief Minister of also placing hurdles when he was a Central Minister during the previous UPA regime when the Puducherry government was persuading the Centre to grant statehood to the former French colony.

Leaders of the alliance parties, including the those of the AIADMK, accompanied Rangasamy during the campaign..

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