PUDUCHERRY: BJP leader and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi has assumed the role of Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory Puducherry. A Rashtrapati Bhawan communiqué released a statement saying, "The President has been pleased to appoint Ms. Kiran Bedi to be the Lt. Governor of Puducherry with effect from the date she assumes charges of her office."
The post was vacant ever since the Modi government sacked UPA nominee Virendra Kataria on July 2014. Bedi, who had joined the BJP just before the 2015 Assembly elections in Delhi and was the part's chief ministerial candidate ever since. "I look forward to giving every bit of myself to the responsibility. I am there for the benefit of the country. I am here to give my best every day, each day. I am grateful for the government's decision. They trusted me." Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kerjriwal congratulated Bedi on Twitter with a tweet that read, "My best wishes to Kiran Didi for this new role."
Assuming her seat, Bedi has already started the works to better governance. She recently sent out a tweet to her followers saying she is just a tweet away for any idea and feedback for serving Puducherry to the best. She got an overwhelming response, with several people sharing their views and suggestion on improving the territory, while others warning her not to interfere with the functioning of the elected government of the territory. People brought her attention to a range of issues including connectivity with other parts of the country, to strengthening and reforming police force.
The appointment comes three days after the Congress-DMK alliance won 17 seats in the 30-member Assembly. The AIADMK, which contested the elections on its own, won four seats while the BJP could not get even a single seat.
