Puducherry: Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam will be declared elected as the 19th speaker of the territorial assembly unopposed on Saturday. No other members had filed their nominations till
12 noon Friday when the time for filing of nominations came to a close, said secretary to the assembly S. Mohandas.
V.P. Sivakozhunthu, Congress MLA from Lawspet constituency, who is holding the post of pro-tem speaker, is also all set to be elected as the Deputy Speaker of the assembly, unopposed.
The 66-year-old Vaithilingam served as the Chief Minister of the state twice, in 1991 and in 2008 after the resignation of N. Rangasamy. A formal announcement of the election of speaker will be made by pro-tem Speaker V.P. Sivakolundhu on Saturday when the House resumes its session.
