PUDUCHERRY: TPR Selvam, an AINRC MLA elected from Mannadipet constituency was declared elected unopposed as Deputy Speaker of the Territorial Assembly.
Speaker V Sabapathy announced the election of Selvam as he was the only candidate to file nomination papers, when the deadline for filing closed at 12 pm on Tuesday.
Later, Chief Minister N Rangasamy led Selvam to his chair while the other members greeted him. None of the opposition members greeted him in the Assembly as their bench was vacant following AIADMK boycott and Congress and DMK walk out.
Offering felicitations, the Chief minister advised the first time MLA to gain knowledge from the functioning of the Speaker and former speakers to do his job well.
AINRC MLA, A Tamilselvan, who was elected from Indira Nagar constituency was administered oath by the Speaker in the Puducherry Assembly on Wednesday. His father AdiKesavan, elder brother of N Rangasamy, was present.
Tamilselvan’s entry has raised the strength of the ruling AINRC in the Assembly to 15. The government, which was formed with the support of the an Independent member, has a strength of 16 in the 30 member Assembly. The Opposition Congress has seven, AIADMK five and DMK two, totaling to 14 members.