Puducherry Legislative Assembly
The Indian Union Territory (UT) of Puducherry comprises four districts: Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Geographically, the area under the Puducherry UT consists of three disjointed regions, with Pondicherry and Karaikal districts surrounded by districts of Tamil Nadu, Yanam district an enclave of East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, and Mahe district bordered by districts of Kerala. The four districts were ruled by French before they were integrated into India in 1962.
For ease of administration, during French rule, the area under these four districts was divided into 39 assembly constituencies. After becoming a UT of India, Puducherry was divided into 30 assembly constituencies, which were restructured in 2005 by Delimitation Commission of India.
Contents
Assembly during French rule
In 1946, French India (Inde française) became Overseas territory (Territoire d'outre-mer) of France. Then a Representative Assembly (Assemblée représentative) was created. The Assembly had 44 seats, including five of Chandernagor. Pondicherry had 22 seats, viz. Muthialpet, Mouroungapacom–Nainar Mandapam, Embalam–Kalamandapam, Couroussoucoupom, Cassicade, Pondicherry–Raj Bhavan, Bussy Street, Ouppalam, Bahour, Nettappakam, Oulgaret, Sellipet–Suthukeni, Mannadipet, Oussoudou, Villenour, Calapeth, Saram–Lawspet, Nellitope, Archivak–Ariancoupom, Tavalacoupom, Courouvinatam–Karaiamputtur and Rettiarpalayam. Karaikal had 12 representatives in the assembly from these seats: Cotchery–Mada Kovil, Thirumeniyazhar, Neravy, Tirounalar–Tharparinswarar Kovil, Tirounalar–Padhrakaliamman Kovil, Nedungadu, Karikal Nord, Karikal Sud, Karikal Central, Karaikovilpattu, Grand Aldée-Nord and Grand Aldée-Sud. Mahe had three representatives from the seats of Mahé Town, Pallor and Pandakkal. Yanam had two seats Kankalapet and Adi Andhrapet.
Merger and formation of Union Territory
French Government transferred the four enclaves to the Indian Union under a de facto treaty on 1 November 1954. Later the territory was merged with India on 16 August 1962.
As the people aspired for a popular Government, the Indian Parliament enacted the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 that came into force on 1 July 1963, and the pattern of Government prevailing in the rest of the country was introduced in this territory also, but subject to certain limitations. Under Article 239 of the Indian Constitution, the President of India appoints an Administrator with such designation as he may specify to head the administration of the territory. The President also appoints the Chief Minister. The President on the advice of the Chief Minister appoints the other Ministers.
Governance
The Centre is represented by the Lt. Governor, who resides at the Raj Niwas, Rangapillai Street, the former palace of the French Governor General of Puducherry. The Central government is more directly involved in the financial well-being of the territory, as against the states where financial administration, given a budgeted central grant is the responsibility to the state governments. Consequently, Puducherry has at various times, enjoyed lower taxes, especially in the indirect category.
Constituencies
The structure of the Puducherry Legislature is unicameral. The Legislative Assembly consists of 30 members. The people on the basis of adult franchise directly elect all the members.
In terms of the provisions of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 the normal tenure of the Assembly is five years, unless sooner dissolved. There are 16 Committees in the Assembly.
Parliamentary and assembly constituencies of Puducherry were redesigned by Delimitation Commission of India based on data obtained in 2001 census of India.[1]
Before delimitation
The Puducherry Legislative Assembly has 31 constituencies. Out of them 21 constituencies belong to Pondicherry, Karaikal has 6 in number, Mahe has 2 in number and Yanam has a single constituency.
Pondicherry was divided among these 21 assembly constituencies: Muthialpet, Cassicade, Raj Bhavan, Bussy, Oupalam, Orleampeth, Nellithope, Modeliarpeth, Ariankuppam, Embalom (SC), Nettapakkam, Kuruvinatham, Bahour (SC), Thirubuvanai (SC), Mannadipeth, Ossudu (SC), Villenour, Ozhukarai, Thattanchavady, Reddiarpalayam and Lawspet.
Area under Karaikal district was divided among the following 6 assembly constituencies: Cotchery, Karaikal, Karaikal South, Neravy-Grand Alde, Tirunallar and Neduncadu (SC).
Assembly constituencies of Mahe and Palloor were from Mahé district. The Yanam district formed a single assembly constituency, i.e. Yanam.
After delimitation
Post delimitation, the Puducherry parliamentary constituencies is divided among 30 assembly constituencies, as before. Now, Yanam and Mahe districts form a single constituency each, viz. Yanam and Mahe, respectively.[1] The area under Karaikal district forms 5 assembly constituencies, viz. Nedungadu, Thirunallar, Karaikal North, Karaikal South and Neravy T R Pattinam.[1] The area under the Pondicherry district forms 23 assembly constituencies, viz. Mannadipet, Thirubuvanai, Ossudu, Mangalam, Villianur, Ozhukarai, Kadirkamam, Indira Nagar, Thattanchavady, Kamaraj Nagar, Lawspet, Kalapet, Muthialpet, Raj Bhavan, Oupalam, Orleampeth, Nellithope, Mudaliarpet, Ariankuppam, Manavely, Embalam, Nettapakkam and Bahour.[1]
The constituencies of Thirubuvanai, Ossudu, Embalam, Nettapakkam and Nedungadu are reserved for candidates from SC.[1]
See also
- Municipal Administration in French India
- List of Chief Ministers of Puducherry
- Puducherry (Lok Sabha constituency)
- Pondicherry Municipal Council
- Yanam Municipal Council
