Days after Puducherry Lt Governor issued an order declaring as null and void the appointment of a retired IAS officer as State Election Commissioner by the territorial government, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy on Wednesday said Kiran Bedi has "no authority" to rescind it.
The Chief Minister told reporters that Bedi has no authority to cancel or rescind the appointment made by the government.
"The Home Ministry had only given the guidelines on the modality of appointment in the future.
The incumbent T B Balakrishnan, appointed by the government, will continue and he has already commenced work to redraw the territorial limits of the wards and appoint election officers."
"The appointment has become a fait accompli and neither Kiran Bedi nor the Home Ministry can quash the appointment of the present SEC, he said adding the order of the Lt Governor declaring Balakrishnan's appointment as null and void only "deserves to be thrown into the dustbin."
Narayanasamy said his government would bring in a special health insurance scheme called 'Chief Minister's Health Insurance scheme' to provide medical assistance and ensure cashless treatment for all families now left out of the 'Ayushman Bharat Abhiyan.'