| Pondicherry Representative Assembly | |
| Native Name: | French: Assemblée représentative de Pondichéry |
| Coa Pic: | Emblem of India.svg |
| Coa Res: | 100px |
| House Type: | Unicameral |
| Term Limits: | 5 years |
| Foundation: | June 1955 |
| Preceded By: | Representative Assembly of French India |
| Disbanded: | 30 June 1963 |
| Succeeded By: | Pondicherry Legislative Assembly |
| Leader1 Type: | President |
| Members: | 39 |
| Voting System1: | First-past-the-post |
| First Election1: | 1955 |
| Last Election1: | 1959 |
| Session Room: | Pondicherry Legislative Assembly.jpg |
| Meeting Place: | Assembly Building, rue Victor Simonel, Pondicherry |
After the merger of French settlements into an Indian union, a new assembly, named the Pondicherry Representative Assembly, was created by the government of India. After the "de facto transfer day" of 1 October 1954, before 16 August 1962 also referred to as "de-jure transfer day". During this transition period, general elections to the representative assembly were held in 1955 and 1959. After the de-jure transfer day, legal integration of French settlements into the Indian Union was complete. However, this assembly, like its predecessor, was advisory (to the chief commissioner) in its role, which led to frequent contention between the popular government and the chief commissioner.
In 1946, French India (Inde française) became an overseas territory (Territoire d'outre-mer) of France.In the same year, on 25 October, the Representative Assembly of French India (Assemblée représentative de l'Inde française) was created and replaced the general council (conseil général).[1]
During the start of the Fourth Republic, decree nº 46–2381, dated 25 October 1946, was passed by the government of France, instituting the Representative Assembly in French India. This original assembly had 44 seats, but after the merger of Changernagore, its size was reduced to 39. A member of this assembly was referred to as a councillor and held a five-year fixed term.
The de facto transfer of French settlements in India took place on 1 November 1954. In January 1955, the Indian union government renamed these four French settlements to the Union Territory of Pondicherry.[2] On 11 June 1955, the government of India dissolved the Representative Assembly of French India.[3] After extending the 1951 People's Representative Act of the Indian Union to the state of Pondicherry, fresh elections were held to the Pondicherry Representative Assembly in July 1955, based on universal adult franchise.
| Election year | Assembly | Period | Ruling party | President | Vice president |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 17 August 1955 – 28 October 1958 | R.L. Purushothama Reddiar Kamisetty Parasuram | Kamisetty Parasuram N.A. | ||
| 1959 | Aug 1959 – 30 June 1962 | Indian National Congress | A. S. Gangeyan | N.A. | |
After 1951, French India consisted of four "settlements" (French: établissements), namely, Pondichéry, Karikal, Mahé, and Yanaon. The Assemblée Représentative of French India allocated 39 seats to its 17 communes. Pondichéry and Karaikal had 8 and 6 electoral constituencies (circonscriptions électorales), respectively, while Mahé and Yanaon had one each.[4]
As per Article 2 of the decree, the composition of the assembly is determined as follows:[4]
| Settlements (Établissements) | Seats (sièges) | Constituencies (circonscriptions) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pondicherry | 22 | Pondicherry:Mouttalpeth, Couroussoucoupom, Cassicade, Pondicherry, Bussy Street, Ouppalam Ariancoupom: Archivak–Ariancoupom, Tavalacoupom Bahour: Bahour, Courouvinatam–Karaiamputtur Modéliarpeth: Mouroungapacom, Nellitope Oulgaret:Oulgaret, Calapeth, Saram–Lawspet, Rettiarpaleom Nettapacom: Nettappakam, Embalam Tiroubouvané: Sellipet–Suthukeni, Mannadipet Villenour: Villenour, Oussoudou | |
| Karaikal | 12 | Cotchéry: Cotchéry-Mada Kovil, Thirumeniyazhagar Karikal : Karikal Nord, Karikal Centre, Karikal Sud, Karaikovilpattu Tirnoular: Tirounalar-Tharparinswarar Kovil, Tirounalar-Padhrakaliamman Kovil Néravy: Néravy Neduncadou: Neduncadou Grand Aldée: Grand Aldée-Nord, Grand Aldée-Sud | |
| Mahé | 3 | Mahé: Mahé (Ville), Pallor, Pandakkal | |
| Yanaon | 2 | Yanaon: Cancalapeth, Adi Andhrapeth |
See also: First Representative Assembly of Pondicherry.
The 1955 Pondicherry Representative Assembly election was held from 18 to 23 July. Initially, Maurice Pakkiriswamy Pillai led the Pondicherry Representative Assembly from 17 August 1955,[5] until his death in January 1956.[6] [7] At that point, another cabinet was formed, comprising Eduard Goubert, Chandrasekhara Chettiar, Mohammed Yusoof, S. Dakshinamoorthy Mudaliar, and Thiagraja Naicker.[8]
See also: Second Representative Assembly of Pondicherry.
The 1959 Pondicherry Representative Assembly election was held from 11 to 14 August. Among the winners, a six-member council of ministers was formed under the leadership of V. Venkatasubba Reddiar and included Eduard Goubert, C. E. Barathan, Gouroussamy Pillai, P. Shanmugam, and Mohamed Ismail Maricar.[9]
The representative assembly building was inaugurated during the Second Assembly by then-commissioner S. K. Dutta, on 11 August 1961. However, that event was boycotted by leaders of the People's Front, which was the principal opposition party. The deputy leader of the opposition, M. M. Hussaine, clarified that it was a passive demonstration to garner attention from the central government in order to hasten the process of de jure transfer. A resolution urging this transfer was passed by the assembly in November 1959.[10]
The French settlements in India were de jure transferred on 16 August 1962. The Pondicherry Representative Assembly functioned until 30 June 1963 and was succeeded by the Puducherry Legislative Assembly. The Indian Parliament enacted the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, which came into force on 1 July 1963,[11] and the pattern of government prevailing in the rest of the country was introduced in this territory also, but subject to certain limitations. Edouard Goubert became the chief minister in the subsequent Pondicherry Legislative Assembly.