The Hindu : Other States / Pondicherry News : Induction of nominated members a surprise

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Friday, Mar 25, 2005

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Induction of nominated members a surprise

By S. Nadarajan

PONDICHERRY, MARCH 24. The swearing-in of three nominated members — Nara Kalainathan of the Communist Party of India, M. Mary Theresa and S. Annamalai Reddiar of the Congress — in the Pondicherry Assembly today was a sudden development.

Till the last minute neither Chief Minister N. Rangasamy nor any of the Congress heavyweights here would confirm who were going to be inducted.

Even as there was speculation over who would be taken into the Cabinet to restore its strength to six, the induction of the nominated MLAs did not evoke much enthusiasm in Congress circles.

With the resignation of K. Lakshminarayanan as Education Minister early this month, the Cabinet's strength was reduced to five.

Opposition plea

Opposition parties including the AIADMK say the Chief Minister should accord recognition to Karaikal. For, there is no ``balance'' in representation in various government posts.

The Ministry has completed four years in office and the Assembly election is due next year.

The Delimitation Commission has taken up redrawing the territorial limits of the Assembly constituencies on priority. The last delimitation was done in 1974.

The delimitation has evoked criticism from almost all parties.

Mr. Rangasamy is now faced with the task of inducting a Minister and notifying civic polls, due for nearly three decades.

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