Govt to felicitate Pondy legislators completing 25 years

The Puducherry government would draw up a programme to felicitate E Valsaraj (Cong) and A M H Nazeem (DMK) who have completed 25 years as members of the House without break, Chief Minister N.Rangasamy said today.
Rangasamy conceded the plea of Leader of the Opposition V Vaithilingam during zero hour in the Assembly that a special session of the House be convened to felicitate the two legislators who have completed without break 25 years as members of the House.
Vaithiliingam said a special session of the House was held on May 2, 2010 to felicitate him (Vaithilingam who was Chief Minister of Puducherry then) and also the then Deputy Speaker of the Assembly A V Sreedharan following completion of 25 years as members without break.

The then Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar was the chief guest to felicitate the legislators and also to present a special address to the House. "A similar function could be held now to felicitate Valsaraj and Nazeem by inviting the present Lok Sabha Speaker," the Congress leader said.
The Chief Minister said "we will hold a function on the floor of the House and invite the Lok Sabha Speaker to felicitate the two legislators in keeping with the precedent."
Both Valsaraj and Nazeem were present when the Chief Minister accepted Vaithilingam's suggestion.
Valsaraj has represented Mahe constituency since 1990 while DMK legislator Nazeem has been representing the Karaikal constituency.

"The government will draw up the programme to hold the function soon," the Chief Minister said.