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Guidelines on appointment of nominated MLAs sought

Special Correspondent

AIADMK leader writes to Abdul Kalam seeking directives

Puducherry: Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) here A. Anbalagan MLA has urged President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to ensure that the Union Home Ministry framed guidelines on the appointment of nominated legislators for Puducherry Assembly.

In his letter to the President recently, Mr. Anbalagan said that efforts were under way now on the part of the Puducherry Government to appoint "politicians" as nominated MLAs and such an appointment would be a consideration in return for political favour. The provision of Section 3 of the Union Territories Act 1963 said that the Centre might nominate not more than 3 persons not being in the service of the Government to the Territorial Assembly. The intention of this section was that eminent persons from different walks of life were to be represented in the Assembly so that their voices would be heard on important matters governing welfare of Puducherry.

The Congress was interested in appointing one member each from the Pattali Makkal Katchi and the Communist Party of India as nominated MLAs. The three posts of nominated MLAs were not seats that could be shared with alliance parties. Further the power of appointing the three members rested with the Centre and the reading of the relevant section would show that the Centre might or might not appoint them. He also said that the present Assembly did not have any woman representative.

If at all appointment of nominated MLAs was absolutely essential, the AIADMK had no objection to women proficient in fields of education, agriculture, scientific activities and social services.

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