Chennai: In a major overhaul, Kiran Bedi was on Tuesday night removed as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.

Tamilisai Soundararajan, the Governor of Telangana, has been given additional charge as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry till a permanent replacement will be announced.

The move comes on a day when the Congress government, headed by Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, slipped into minority after the resignation of two MLAs in the last two days. In all, four MLAs have quit since January.

There is speculation on whether this move indicates that the Union government is displeased with Kiran Bedi, or that she will enter active politics again. It is also said that since Tamilisai is a Tamil, the Centre thought that she would be the right person for the post at this point of time.

Congress sources however said that this move coming ahead of elections is a ploy by the BJP. ‘BJP is doing this now because people won’t vote for them if she remains Governor,’ they said.

A communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan said, “The President has directed that Dr. Kiran Bedi shall cease to hold the office of the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry and has appointed Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, Governor of Telangana, to discharge the functions of the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry, in addition to her own duties.”

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy recently met President Ram Nath Kovind and urged him to recall Lt Governor Kiran Bedi for her alleged interference in the administration in the union territory.