NE NEWS SERVICE
PUDUCHERRY, MARCH 10
The territorial administration in Puducherry was ‘duty bound’ to hold local body polls soon, said the Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi here on Tuesday.
She said there was already a mandate from the Apex Court to revive grass root level local bodies in the union territory.
Addressing at a celebration of International Women’s Day, Ms. Bedi said in less than a year from now civic polls should be held as mandated by the Apex Court and women would be given opportunities to play their roles as decision makers.
Ms. Bedi said women in Puducherry are distinguished themselves by the standard of literacy and hence they should come forward to emerge as leaders through civic bodies. She said it was “unfortunate” that polls for the local bodies were not held for the last 10 years in Puducherry resulting in the Union Territory not being able to get Central funds for rural and urban development programmes. Earlier, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy presented his presidential address and left the venue before Bedi’s arrival. He stressed the need for introducing 33 per cent reservation for women in the civic bodies.
LG and CM should work in tandem: Minister Kandasamy
Welfare Minister M Kandasamy who spoke on the occasion said the Chief Minister and Lt Governor should work in tandem in the larger interests of the development of Puducherry.
“The current turf war between them hits most of the schemes operated by the departments I am looking after and hence there should be mutual understanding between the Lt Governor and Chief Minister,” he said in the presence of the Lt Governor.
