Anbalagan sworn in as pro-tem speaker; Puducherry assembly to convene on May 20

PUDUCHERRY: AIADMK MLA A Anbalagan was sworn in as the pro-tem speaker of the legislative assembly of the Union territory of Puducherry on Monday. Lieutenant governor K Kailashnathan administered the oath of office to him in a ceremony at Lok Nivas. The ceremony commenced with the rendering of Vande Mataram, the National Anthem, and the state song Tamil Thai Vaazhthu despite demand by Tamil outfits to render Tamil Thai Vaazhthu first.Elected for the record fifth time from the Uppalam constituency, Anbalagan was recommended based on his vast legislative experience. Later at the legislative assembly, AINRC founder and chief minister N Rangasamy escorted Anbalagan to the speaker's chair, where both ruling and opposition MLAs offered their felicitations.Interacting with reporters, Anbalagan said the assembly would convene at 9.30am on May 20 for the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected members. The schedule for electing the permanent speaker of the House will be announced after the MLAs take their oaths on May 20. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami congratulated Anbalagan over the phone on his election as pro-tem speaker.Earlier, Rangasamy, who contested and won from two constituencies, retained Mangalam and resigned from the Thattanchavady seat.NDA led by AINRC retained power in the recently concluded elections, securing a comfortable majority with 18 seats in the 30-member House. AINRC emerged as the single largest party with 12 seats. Its ally BJP secured four seats and the other two allies, AIADMK and LJK, one seat each. On the opposition, DMK won five seats while the Congress just one. TVK secured two seats and Puducherry-based NYMK one seat.Rangasamy has already sworn in as chief minister, and BJP MLA A Namassivayam and AINRC Malladi Krishna Rao took oath as ministers. The cabinet is yet to be fully formed.