Chennai: Puducherry lieutenant governor (L-G) Kiran Bedi said she will quit on 29 May 2018, when she completes two years in office, in an open letter to the people of the union territory on Saturday.

This comes amid a growing power struggle between Bedi and chief minister V. Narayanasamy.

“I have given myself a tenure here. I shall relinquish my office on May 29, 2018, when I complete two years in Puducherry. I have already informed my seniors," Bedi said in a letter to “fellow Puducherrians."

While Bedi had directed officials at the secretariat to form WhatsApp groups for quick dissemination of official information, last week, Narayanasamy had issued a circular that banned the usage of social media by the government officials for sharing official information.

ALSO READ: In echoes of Delhi, Puducherry CM and Lieutenant Governor squabble over rules

Within three days, on 5 January, Bedi cancelled the chief minister’s order and declared it as “null and void".

Though this is the latest face-off between the lieutenant governor and the chief minister, the squabble over the rules have been obvious ever since the former IPS officer took charge in May and the Congress leader was sworn in as the chief minister of the union territory in June.

Mint had reported in August that differences between Narayanasamy and Bedi mirrored the relationship between Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and former lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung.

Interestingly, the decision by Bedi— the chief ministerial candidate of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2015 Delhi assembly election and lost heavily to Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)— comes days after Jung announced his resignation on 22 December.

ALSO READ: Najeeb Jung resigns as Delhi L-G, thanks Kejriwal for association

“I have tried to bring about strong coordination amongst all ranks and all departments. This was my duty to do. We shall continue to do so. I have more plans to strengthen it," said Bedi.

“As long as I have the responsibility of working here I shall ensure integrity and rule of law without fear or favour," she added in the letter.

Narayanasamy, who did not contest the assembly election in May, was sworn-in as the chief minister of Puducherry on 6 June and later won a by-poll in November from the Nellithope constituency.

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