PUDUCHERRY: V Bhalan and J Ayyanar of AINRC and M Visweswaran, State president of the BJP, who were appointed as nominated MLAs to the Territorial Assembly took oath of office on Thursday.
Speaker V Sabapathy administered the oath to the new members at a function held in his chamber in the Legislative Assembly in presence of Chief Minister N Rangasamy and his Cabinet colleagues.
With this, the Assembly would function with its full strength of 33.
The strength of ruling AINRC has gone up to 17 and enjoys the support of a BJP member and an independent member. The Opposition Congress has seven, AIADMK has five and DMK two. There was rejoicing among the supporters of the MLAs, particularly among the BJP who now have a member in the Assembly after eight years.
The nominated legislators are entitled to receive all rights and benefits on a par with elected MLAs.