Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore   

Over 15,300 members take oath in Cuddalore, Villupuram

Special Correspondent

Ensure people's needs are met by proper implementation of schemes: Collector

Photo: T. Singaravelou

DAY ONE: District Collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi addressing the newly elected members of the Cuddalore District Panchayat on Wednesday.

CUDDALORE: Elected members of the local bodies, numbering over 15,300 in the districts of Cuddalore and Villupuram, took oath on Wednesday.

District Collectors Gagandeep Singh Bedi and Ashish Chatterji started the ceremony with the senior members of the district panchayats who in turn administered the oath to their colleagues.

The Cuddalore district panchayat chairman post was earlier reserved for Scheduled Castes, but it has now been allotted to women (general).

Pattali Makkal Katchi candidate S. Silambuselvi of Melbhuvanagiri is slated to become the Chairperson.

In the 29-member district panchayat, DMK has 12 members, AIADMK 11, PMK five, and MDMK one. With 10 members elected, women constitute more than 30 per cent of the total strength of the civic body.

Of the elected representatives, at least three — P. Shanmugham, Mathialagan and M.S. Kandasamy — have been returned to the civic body for the second term.

While addressing the members, Mr. Bedi said since each of them would be representing a population of 50,000 each and it was a responsible post, they should ensure that the needs of the people were fulfilled by the proper implementation of government schemes.

Mr. Bedi called upon women members to participate actively in the proceedings and contribute towards the development of their respective wards.

Mr. Chatterji congratulated the members and wished them well.

The Collectors told the members that in case of competition, secret ballot would be held for the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson posts on Saturday (October 28) at 9.30 a.m. and 2 p.m. respectively.

The number of elected representatives in Cuddalore district is: panchayat wards - 4,917, panchayat union wards - 276, panchayat presidents - 680, town panchayat wards - 258, district panchayat wards - 29 and municipal wards - 174. The number of elected representatives in Villupuram district is: panchayat wards - 7,092, panchayat presidents — 1,104, panchayat union wards - 476, town panchayat wards - 243, district panchayat wards - 15 and municipal wards - 90.

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Over 15,300 members take oath in Cuddalore, Villupuram

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