Two days after the removal of Kiran Bedi as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry through the Presidential order, Tamilisai Soundararajan has on Thursday sworn-in to replace Bedi as the next Lieutenant Governor of the former French colony. Chief Justice of Madras High Court Sanjib Banerjee has administered the oath of office for Tamilisai Soundararajan at the ceremony held at Raj Nivas, Puducherry. 

With the new role, Tamilisai will be discharging her duties as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry along with discharging her duties as the Governor of Telangana, the role that she has been holding since 2019. The significant development has come amid major political drama unfolded in the semi-state where Chief Minister Narayasamy had demanded the Center to withdraw Bedi from the office in the midst of fresh troubles over the sudden resignations of key legislators of the ruling party. 

As the demand to withdraw Bedi from office grown stronger, President Ram Nath Kovind issued an order on Tuesday to remove Bedi, the former IPS police officer, from office, and in the order, the President has directed Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan to replace Bedi. Following the order, Krishna Kumar Singh, Special Resident Commissioner, Puducherry, had met Tamilisai at Raj Bhavan, Hyderabad. 

In the meeting, Krishna Kumar Singh had handed over the Warrant of Appointment to discharge duties as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. According to reports, Tamilisai Soundararajan arrived at Puducherry on Wednesday evening and offered prayers at a Pillayar temple near the Raj Nivas. Chief Minister Narayanasamy accompanied by Deputy Speaker Balan and Government whip Anandaraman met the newly-appointed head of state at her office and felicitated her. 

Following the Chief Minister, a delegation of legislators of the opposition led by leader of the opposition and former Chief Minister Rangasamy called on Tamilsai and extended their wishes. Narayanasamy said that the removal of Kiran Bedi is a victory for the people and incessant struggles. He stated, " whoever snatches away the rights of the people of Puducherry will be expelled". 

Kiran Bedi was appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry in May 2016. During her tenure in office, she observed a souring relationship with the Chief Minister and the tussle between them had set a bad precedent for the country. 

For the first time in the history of Puducherry, a Tamil speaking person has been appointed as the Lieutenant Governor and in line with that, Tamilisai Soundararajan had become the first Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry to take the oath of office in Tamil. She was sworn-in as the Lieutenant Governor at 9 am on Thursday and the development has come at a high time when the state is just months ahead of the assembly polls.

As Tamilisai Soundararajan had taken the office by writing history, outgoing Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi was given a farewell guard of honor by Puducherry Police outside Raj Nivas. According to reports, Bedi will be staying at Raj Nivas till Saturday as per her desire. Tamilisai Soundarajan has become the 25th Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry and she will be holding the office for five years or at the President's pleasure. Tamilisai is the fourth female Lt. Governor of Puducherry after Chandrawati (February 1990 - December 1990), Rajani Rai (April 1998- July 2002), and Kiran Bedi (May 2016- February 2021).