New Delhi: Kiran Bedi has been removed as Puducherry Lieutenant-Governor, a statement from Rashtrapati Bhawan said today. The President’s office said further that Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan is being given additional charge of the Union territory.

“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, with effect from the date she assumes charge of her office, until regular arrangements for the office of Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry are made,” a release from the President’s office said.

Kiran Bedi’s removal comes just weeks ahead of Assembly polls and is being widely seen as a political move on the part of the BJP.

Congress leaders have been resigning from Puducherry Assembly lately, Till date, 4 Cong MLAs have quit the assembly.

2 MLAs namely A Namassivayam and E.Theeppainjan had resigned on January 25 and joined the BJP.