Puducherry Speaker returns to LG file nominating 3 members

Puducherry Assembly Speaker V Vaithilingam today returned the file to Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi who nominated three BJP functionaries as members of the House, terming it as 'improper' and 'not acceptable'.
Bedi had sworn in on July 4 BJP's Puducherry unit president V Saminathan, its treasurer K G Shankar and another BJP functionary and educationist S Selvaganapathy as nominated members of the assembly.
Puducherry has a 33-member House out of which three members are nominated legislators.
"The induction of the three members was improper and not acceptable as the swearing in was not done in accordance with the procedure," a source close to the Speaker quoted him as having said.

This was stated by Vaithilingam in a note while returning the file Bedi had forwarded to him on July 5 informing him of their induction.
The source quoting the Speaker said there was also no communication from the Union home ministry, the competent authority, to the office of the Speaker on appointment of the three members as nominated legislators.

He said the file was returned to Bedi on these grounds.
The Speaker's observation came in the backdrop of opposition AIADMK (Amma) A Anbalagan's plea to him earlier today to convene a special Assembly session and adopt a resolution against the "arbitrary nomination" of the three members and their induction into the House.

He had told reporters that "unnecessary confusion" has been created by the Lt. Governor by their nomination.
This was after the Union home ministry's order appointing them as nominated members under provisions of the Union Territories Act.
The LG had taken the stand that she had acted only in keeping with the statutory provisions.
Her action had, however, drawn flak from Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, PWD Minister and PCC president A Namassivayam, Welfare Minister M Kandasamy and ruling Congress legislators, among others, that she had acted arbitrarily, "violating democratic norms and conventions".
The LG and Narayansamy have running battle over various issues.

Ruling Congress leaders along with leaders and legislators of its alliance partner DMK and also functionaries of CPI, CPI(M) and VCK had observed a fast on July 7 condemning the "appointment of the three activists without consulting the elected government".
A day-long bandh was also observed on July 8 at the instance of the Congress and the other parties seekingouster of Bedi from the post of Lt. Governor.
The three legislators, meanwhile, had submitted a joint letter to the Assembly secretary on July 7 seeking allocation of a room for them on its premises and issuance of identity cards and other statutory facilities.

Saminathan, one of the nominated members, has been appointed as leader of the BJP's legislature wing leader, according to the letter the nominated members had given to the Assembly secretary.