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The Hindu
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Puducherry residents want strict enforcement of rules prohibiting meetings along main roads
Amid frequent traffic snarls due to political rallies or protests by one organisation or the other, residents want authorities to enforce rules that restrict meetings along main roads and throttling vehicular movement in the city. In the recent days, several places in the town have witnessed road blockages due to holding of political events. With political activity gathering steam ahead of 2026 Assembly elections in the Union Territory, residents believe that lack of administrative intervention at this juncture would lead to more such violations in the days to come. Residents say most political parties are breaking the tradition of holding meetings in designated areas such as in an open ground or a convention hall. The political parties, supporters of leaders and organisations are conveniently organising meetings on main roads after blocking a stretch, unmindful of the difficulties that may arise to road users. Recently, the Airport Road was witness to two major events, one as part of the birthday celebrations of a Youth Congress leader and the other relating to the induction of a former Congressman into the ruling All India N R Congress fold. While the birthday celebrations were held at Jeeva Colony junction on an evening, the induction ceremony was organised near Navalar High Secondary School in the morning hours. 'On the day when the birthday celebrations happened, I had to take a circuitous route to reach my home at Avvai Nagar. After I crossed Pakkamudayanpet and entered Lawspet Main Road, I was asked to take the ECR road and reach Latha Steel junction to reach my residence. Several students and office goers were put to undue hardship because of the road block,' Ravikumar, a resident said. The induction ceremony saw an even worse traffic hold-up as it happened during peak hours on a stretch that houses several schools and government colleges. As the main road was closed near the Navalar School junction, people had to travel through bylanes of residential areas to reach their destination. 'We don't know who gave permission to block a main road for holding a political event, that too during peak hours when hundreds of people travel on the stretch to reach educational institutions and offices. The road is not even closed for such a long time when a VIP arrives at the Airport. Even during VIP visit, a particular route will only be blocked for a few minutes for the movement of cavalcade. On Monday, the entire road was blocked for two hours for the political event,' he said. In both the political events, according to a shop owners on Airport Road, the top leaders of the parties were present when the traffic diversions and blockage happened on the stretch. According to another resident, the road in front of Cluny School has turned into an accident-prone stretch. 'Despite the road being narrow, the supporters of the leader were allowed to put party flags after digging holes on either side. A good part of the road is taken up for putting party flags. If this trend is allowed, political meetings will continue to be held on thoroughfares blocking movement of vehicles,' the resident said. As the Union Territory is heading towards another election, the administration should immediately stop political parties and organisations from organising events by causing disturbance to road users, residents demanded. ends
NDTV
10-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Puducherry In Deadlock As Chief Minister Boycotts Work Over Lt Governor's Overreach
Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Puducherry, N Rangasamy, and ministers from the ruling All India N R Congress skipped work for the third consecutive day, intensifying their protest against Lt Governor Kuniyil Kailashnathan's alleged overreach in administrative matters. The fresh flashpoints include the reshuffling of IAS officers without consulting the Chief Minister and the recent appointment of Puducherry Civil Services officers. Sources close to Mr Rangasamy told NDTV, "What's the point of coming to office when we can't even implement welfare schemes? Bureaucrats appointed by the Lt Governor aren't supporting the cabinet decisions. We are answerable to the people, not Raj Nivas." Adding to the friction, the Lt Governor reportedly declined to renew the contracts of several guest lecturers - a move seen as undermining the elected government's authority. The Chief Minister has now sought the Centre's urgent intervention, and his party has called a special session of the Legislative Assembly to press the long-standing demand for full statehood for Puducherry - a key promise of the N R Congress, which alone it believes will give full powers to an elected government. The Supreme Court had earlier reiterated that "Lt Governors can't act independently but only on the aid and advice of the council of ministers. The power it ruled must lie with the elected Government and the LG can't be an "obstructionist." Interestingly, even files related to BJP ministers in the coalition cabinet, have allegedly been turned down by the Lt Governor, highlighting the growing discord within the administration. This power tussle is not new in Puducherry. This happened even during the UPA regime in the centre and its Congress government in the former French colony. However, the tug of war reached a new high during the term of Kiran Bedi as Governor. In 2019, the Madras High Court ruled that the LG cannot run a parallel government and must act in line with democratic principles, reinforcing that secretaries are bound to take instructions from the elected council of ministers. Raj Nivas sources maintain that the Lt Governor is merely going "by the rule book" and exercising powers legally vested in the post. However, there is no response to the specific allegations by the ruling NR Congress.
