— Photo: By Special Arrangement

CIVIC CHIEF: Chief Minister N. Rangasamy presents a shawl to B. Sridevi, the newly elected Chairperson of the Pondicherry Municipality after the swearing in ceremony on Monday.

PONDICHERRY: The first council of Pondicherry Municipality, after the enactment of Municipality Act of 1973, was sworn in on Monday.

Dr.B. Sridevi of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) was the first to take oath as the municipal chairperson in a ceremony held at Gandhi Thidal.

In the local body elections held on June 27, after a gap of 38 years, she defeated the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) candidate S. Thamilselvi in a triangular contest.

Assumes office

Immediately after the swearing in ceremony, she went to the chairperson's room and assumed office. She was escorted by the DMK leader R.V. Janakiraman.

Oath in Tamil

Along with Dr. Sridevi, 42 other councillors took the oath as well.

They took the oath in Tamil and owed their allegiance to the Constitution of India.

The Director of Local Administration E. Vallavan administered the oath of office.

Councillors take oath

In the council, the Democratic Progressive Alliance has the majority of 21 seats, followed by Pudhucherry Munnetra Congress with five seats, AIADMK four, Communist Party of India (CPI) one and Independents 11 seats. The CPI, which was part of the DPA during the Assembly elections, contested alone in the civic elections.

The Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, Local Administration Minister Malladi Krishna Rao, MLAs of the Congress, the DMK, the CPI and a large number of Government officials were present on the occasion. Earlier, the Congress and the DMK cadres held a procession in the town. The Election department officials said swearing in for the councillors and Chairman of Mahe Municipality would take place on July 11.

The swearing in of Oulgaret is likely to take place on July 12.

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