Puducherry, September 26: Ruling Congress nominee P Kannan was today elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from the lone seat in the Union Territory of Puducherry. Returning Officer M Sivaprakasam announced Kannan”s election in a release here at the end of the deadline for withdrawal of nominations.
Kannan, the former home minister of the Union territory, had merged his Puducherry Munnetra Congress (PMC), founded in 2005, with the Congress on August 29. The nomination of Kannan alone was found in order during scrutiny of papers on Sept 24 while that of four independents rejected for various reasons, including lack of supporters.
The seat fell vacant on May 16 following the resignation of Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V Narayanasamy after he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Puducherry in the general elections. With the merger of PMC, the strength of Congress in the 30 member Assembly has increased from 10 to 13 and the V Vaithilingam Government is supported by DMK (seven) and three independents.
The principal opposition AIADMK has three members while PMK (two) and CPI and MDMK (one each) complete the tally. AIADMK boycotted the election.
—PTI–