Puducherry: Virtually setting another stage for a confrontation with Lt Governor Kiran Bedi and the Centre, Speaker V. Vaithilingam once again refused to accept the three BJP members sworn-in by her as nominated legislators in the Legislative Assembly.
Hardening the stand on the nominated MLAs’ issue, the Speaker declined to accept the nomination saying that it was made by incompetent authority and hence void. The new order came at a time when the Assembly session is scheduled to begin on November 23.
The Assembly is being convened for the first time after the Union government unilaterally appointed three BJP leaders as nominated members in the House.
On July 4, the Centre nominated Puducherry BJP unit president A Saminathan and treasurer K. G. Shankar and BJP sympathiser S. Selvaganapathy as members of the assembly. Bedi administered oath of office and secrecy to them at Raj Nivas without informing the elected government or inviting Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy.
