Pondy CM lashes out Lt Governor

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy today launched a scathing attack on Lt Governor Virendra Kataria accusing him of ignoring him (the Chief Minister) and acting only on the advice of some top officials.
Participating in a function here to release a book authored by former Puducherry MP Prof Ramadoss, the Chief Minister cited some recent incidents and alleged that the Lt Governor was not according importance to his office.
The Chief Minister said Karaikal South MLA AMH Nazeem had been demanding that an officer on special duty be appointed to give shape to the proposal on establishing a super-speciality hospital at Karaikal.

"Considering the importance of this project to Karaikal region, I had recommended creating the position and even suggested the name of an official for the post. But, the Lt Governor has returned the file to the Chief Minister's office after holding consultations with some officials. He could have got my opinion and discussed with me before returning the file," he said.
"Similarly, my office had sent a recommendation transferring 18 officers belonging to the Puducherry Civil Service. The Lt Governor has made changes to the list without consulting me and has been passing orders.
"The officers who are interested in taking up certain specific assignments now approach the top officials and Lt Governor's office directly seeking orders," Rangasamy said.

"To some key positions in the rank of advisor to the Lt Governor, the Lt Governor has chosen to appoint his relatives without holding any consultation with the Chief Minister's office. These positions involve financial implications and the concurrence of the Ministry is required," he said.
Rangasamy had quit the Congress a few months before the 2011 assembly polls and floated his own outfit the All India NR Congress which was voted to power.
Rangasamy had earlier headed Congress governments from 2001-06 and 2006-08 when he was unceremoniously removed by the party high command following a revolt by cabinet colleagues.