Short session of Puducherry Assembly witnesses acrimonious scenes; Independent legislator suspended

Members of the DMK and Congress staged a walkout from the Puducherry Assembly on Wednesday
| Photo Credit: S.S. Kumar

The Puducherry Assembly session on Wednesday (February 12, 2025), though of short duration, witnessed acrimonious scenes, leading to a walkout by the Opposition DMK and Congress and the suspension of an Independent legislator for “violating” the decorum of the House.

As the session commenced at around 9. 30 a.m, Independent legislator Nehru alias Kuppusamy trooped to the well of the House raising slogans against Speaker R. Selvam for his decision to conduct the proceedings when a no-confidence motion against him was pending in the Assembly Secretariat.

In December last year, Mr. Nehru and two other Independents, M. Sivasankar and P. Angalane, submitted separate notices to the Assembly Secretariat for moving a no-confidence motion against Mr. Selvam for his alleged partisan approach to the members. 

Demanding action against Mr. Selvam, Mr. Nehru squatted on the floor of the House and raised slogans. Mr. Nehru also invited the other two Independents to join him in protest.

Independent legislator Nehru alias Kuppusamy being escorted out of the Assembly after the Speaker ordered his suspension
| Photo Credit:
S.S. Kumar

Unbothered by the protest, the Speaker invited Chief Minister N. Rangasamy to move a condolence resolution for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. After the Chief Minister moved the resolution, Opposition leader R. Siva rose to speak on the resolution, prior to which he requested the Speaker to put the House in order. 

Heeding to the demand of the Opposition leader, Mr. Selvam directed the Assembly watch and ward staff to remove the Independent legislator from the well of the House. As he was being escorted out, the Speaker informed the House that he was suspending Mr. Nehru for “violating” procedures.

DMK, Congress legislators stage walkout

The House then plunged into further turmoil, with the DMK and Congress raising the issue of alleged neglect shown by the Union government towards the Union Territory. “The Central government has neglected Puducherry in providing flood assistance and budgetary support. The neglect happens when the same political formations rule Centre and UT,” he said.

When Mr. Siva and other Opposition legislators started raising further charges against the Central government, Home Minister A. Namassivayam and BJP legislators countered the Opposition leader and urged the chair to expunge the remarks against the Union government. By then, the DMK and Congress members had staged a walkout.

CM counters charge

After the Opposition members walked out of the House, the Chief Minister said his government was getting assistance from the Centre to implement welfare and development work. He said the Centre had provided ₹61 crore to compensate for the loss suffered due to Cylone Fengal. 

“The Opposition has to tell us which scheme we have not implemented. From initiating direct recruitment to fill vacancies, reopening of ration shops, to starting road and other infrastructure work, our government has fulfilled all the promises with the active support of the Centre,” he said.

Motion adopted in support of Speaker

In response to the notice for no-confidence motion against the Speaker, the Chief Minister moved a resolution extending full faith in Mr. Selvam as Speaker of the Assembly. After adopting the motion, the Speaker adjourned the Assembly sine die at around 11 a.m.