Puducherry Assembly to convene on February 12

The Puducherry Legislative Assembly will convene for a short duration at 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday (February 12, 2025).

Though the government has not officially stated the agenda for the session, sources in the ruling party said the purpose was to fulfil its constitutional commitment of adhering to the interregnum of six months between two sessions. 

The Budget session of the Puducherry Assembly was adjourned sine die on August 14, 2024, and as per rules, the House has to meet before February 14, 2025. “The session will be for a few minutes with no particular business planned as the Budget session was scheduled for next month. Wednesday’s session will start with obituary references to leaders, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The government could also place routine bills pertaining to GST and others,” a member of the ruling party told The Hindu. 

Though of short duration, the session holds significance as it will be for the first time that the Assembly is meeting after three Independent legislators, backing the ruling All India NR Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party, submitted separate notices for moving a no-confidence motion against Speaker R. Selvam. G. Nehru alias Kuppusamy (supporting the AINRC in the Assembly) and P. Angalane and M. Sivasankar (both supporting the BJP) submitted the notice for moving the no-confidence motion against Mr. Selvam in December last year. 

With no backing for the three legislators from either the ruling party or principal opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its ally Congress, the motion may not be taken, but the session will give an indication as to whether the differences between the disgruntled MLAs and Speaker persist. 

Puducherry: DMK not to support no-confidence motion against Speaker, says R. Siva

Sources in the Opposition camp said they would try to use the floor of the House to point out shortcomings in governance, especially the government’s failure to get Central assistance despite the same political formations ruling Puducherry and the Centre.

e-Vidhan project

The Assembly Secretariat said work was nearing completion to make the proceedings digital and paperless under the National e-Vidhan Application. The Central government has provided ₹8 crore to digitise the proceedings of Puducherry Assembly.