Budget session of Puducherry Assembly slated for February 2

Puducherry, Jan 17 (PTI): The budget session of PuducherryAssembly will begin on February 2.

This was stated in an official notification from theassembly secretariat here today.

M Sivaprakasam, Secretary to the Assembly, said the sessionwould begin with the address of Lt Governor Dr Iqbal Singh asthis is its first meeting in 2011.

As Puducherry is going in for assembly polls in the next fewmonths. only an interim budget would be presented by ChiefMinister V Vaithilingam, who holds Finance portfolio through avote on account earmarking funds for the first few months ofthe new fiscal 2011-2012.

The vote on account is likely to be tabled on February 4.

The House has a total of 30 elected legislators. Theruling Congress has 13 members and enjoys outside support ofthe seven- member DMK and also three Independent members.

On the opposition side AIADMK has three legislatorsfollowed by PMK two, CPI and MDMK one each.

There are also three nominated members in the Houseand Congress, CPI and PMK have one each.

This is the first session after followers of former ChiefMinister N Rangasamy floated N R Peravai.This group held amassive meeting on December 27 calling upon Rangasamy throughan unanimous resolution to convert the Peravai into apolitical party to challenge Congress at the polls.

Rangasamy, who was ousted from the post in August 2008following a revolt against him by his ministerial colleagueshas been keeping a low profile and distancing himself from allparty related programmes since then.

The six member ministry headed by V Vaithilingam came intobeing within days of the ouster of Rangasamy and the presentdispensation has all those who were ministers in the previousgovernment (including Vaithilingam) and new entrant ANamassivayam (a close relative of Rangasamy).