Delayed for decade, civic polls soon in Puducherry, says Bedi

Addressing reporters at Chennai airport, Bedi said, “It has been 12 years since local body elections were conducted in Puducherry, but now the Supreme Court has passed orders to conduct the elections. We will follow the orders and conduct the civic body polls soon.”

Returning from Delhi, after meeting Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and the newly appointed Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Bedi said that as she was the representative of Central government she has to report directly to the Union government in frequent intervals. 

The Centre is keen in conducting local body elections in Puducherry at the earliest because the villages have not seen their representatives in the last decade. “There are 98 villages and five municipalities, but none of them had seen their grassroot representatives in the last 12 years. The local issues, sanitation, schooling, health care and drainage can be attended by the locals themselves and gives them a sense of ownership,” said Kiran Bedi. 

She also said that if the local body elections are held more women leaders will emerge as lot of women play an active part in rural areas. “They are hardworking and are trained in various self-help groups. Lot of NGOs are working to bring out rural leadership,” she said. 

When asked about the claims of Chief Minister V Narayansamy that Puducherry has not witnessed development in the last two years, since Bedi’s appointment as Lt Governor, she replied that if Puducherry is not developing how can it attract 14 lakh tourists every year. “Puducherry is attracting the number of tourists equal to its population. It is safe for tourists and has one of the cleanest beaches,” said Bedi.