Ve Vaithilingam

V. Vaithilingam is a politician who is the Speaker of Puducherry legislative assembly and former chief minister of Puducherry. He represents Kamaraj Nagar Constituency in the assembly. He held the position of chief minister from 1991 to 1996 and has been chief minister again from 2008-2011. Vaithilingam is credited with leading a stable and efficient government in Puducherry State through a complete five-year term during his prior period in office. He is a senior legislator serving eight consecutive terms. It is interesting to note that his paternal grandfather late Vaithilingam Reddiar was the Mayor of Nettappakkam commune during the French rule in Puducherry and his father V. Venkatasubha Reddiar was also a chief minister of Puducherry. From his very early age, he developed exceptional leadership skills, an example of which was his role as the Chairman of Land Development Bank of Puducherry State.