View source for List of speakers of the Puducherry Legislative Assembly

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox political post
| border = parliamentary
| minister prime
| post = Speaker of Puducherry Legislative Assembly 
| incumbent = [[Embalam R. Selvam]]
| image = 
| imagesize = 
| incumbentsince = 16 June 2021
| appointer = [[List of constituencies of the Puducherry Legislative Assembly|Members of Puducherry Legislative Assembly]]
| termlength = 5 years<br/><small>no renewable limit</small>
| inaugural = A. S. Gangeyan
| formation = 22 July 1963; {{age in years|1963|07|22}} years ago
| deputy    = M.N.R. Balan<br>{{small|(since 4 September 2019)}}
| residence = 
| website = 
}}

'''Speaker of the [[Puducherry Legislative Assembly]]''' is the [[Speaker (politics)|presiding officer]] of the Legislative Assembly of Puducherry, the main law-making body for the Indian UT of Puducherry. The speaker is always a member of the Legislative Assembly.

==History==
The [[Pondicherry Representative Assembly]] was converted into the '''[[Legislative Assembly of Pondicherry]]''' on 1 July 1963 as per Section 54(3) of '''The Union Territories Act, 1963'''<ref name="1963Act">{{cite web|url=https://rajnivas.py.gov.in/rti/governmentunionterritoriesact1963.pdf|title=The Government of Union Territories Act, 1963|publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|accessdate=8 June 2020}}</ref> and its members (who got elected in [[1959 Pondicherry Representative Assembly election|1959]]) were deemed to have been elected to the Legislative Assembly.<ref name="ref2004"/>{{rp|966}} The elections for the Puducherry Vidhan Sabha held since 1964.

==List of the Speakers and Deputy Speakers==
The tenure of different speakers of [[Pondicherry Legislative Assembly]] is given below<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://legislativebodiesinindia.nic.in/STATISTICAL/pondicherry.HTML|title = Union Territory of Pondicherry}}</ref><ref name="ref2004">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DFqbAAAAMAAJ|title=Cabinet Responsibility to Legislature|work= G. C. Malhotra|publisher=Lok Sabha Secretariat|year=2004|isbn=9788120004009}}</ref>{{rp|968}}
<br>
'''Keys:'''
{{legend2|#00FFFF|[[Indian National Congress|Congress]]  |border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2| {{party color|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (Anna D.M.K.) |border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2| {{party color|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (D.M.K.) |border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#FFC000|All India N.R. Congress(A.I.N.R.C.) |border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#f97d09|Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}
{| class="wikitable"
! #
! Name
! Took office
! Left office
! colspan=2| Political party
! Deputy Speaker
! No. of Assembly
! Election
|-
| 1
| A. S. Gangeyan
| 22 July 1963
| 18 September 1964
|rowspan=4| [[Indian National Congress]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" rowspan=4| 
| [[Kamichetty S.V. Rao Naidu]]<br>(27 Nov. 1963 – 24 Aug. 1964)
|align="center" rowspan=1| [[First Assembly of Pondicherry|1st]]
|align="center"| [[1959 Pondicherry Representative Assembly election|1959]]
|-
| 2
| [[M. O. H. Farook]]
| 19 September 1964
| 19 March 1967
|rowspan=3| [[V. N. Purushothaman]]<br>(25 Sep. 1964 – 17 Sep. 1968)
|align="center" rowspan=4| [[Second Assembly of Pondicherry|2nd]]
|align="center" rowspan=4|[[1964 Pondicherry Legislative Assembly election|1964]]
|-
| 3
| [[P. Shanmugam]]
| 30 March 1967
| 9 March 1968
|-
| 4
| S. Manicka Vasagam
| 25 March 1968
| 17 September 1968
|-
|align="center" |-
| align="center"|''Vacant''{{refn|group=note|Assembly dissolved after fall of DMK government following decision of two ministers to join newly formed ADMK.}}<br />{{small|([[President's rule]])}}{{efn|name=PR|When [[President's rule]] is in force in a state, its council of ministers stands dissolved. The office of chief minister thus lies vacant. At times, the legislative assembly also stands dissolved.<ref>Amberish K. Diwanji. "[http://www.rediff.co.in/news/2005/mar/15spec1.htm A dummy's guide to President's rule]". [[Rediff.com]]. 15 March 2005.</ref>}}
| 18 September 1968
| 17 March 1969
|align="center"|N/A
|
| align="center"|''Vacant''
|-
| 5
| S. Perumal
| 22 March 1969
| 2 December 1971
|rowspan=1| [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}" rowspan=1|
| M.L. Selvaradjou<br> (26 Mar. 1969 – 28 Mar. 1972)
|align="center" rowspan=3|3rd 
|align="center" rowspan=3|1969
|-
| 6
| M.L. Selvaradjou
| 29 March 1972
| 3 January 1974
|rowspan=1| [[Indian National Congress]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" rowspan=1|
| [[Kamichetty S.V. Rao Naidu]]<br>(5 Apr. 1972 – 2 Jan. 1974)
|-
|align="center" |-
| align="center"|''Vacant''{{refn|group=note|Assembly was dissolved and president's rule imposed as opposition parties had a chance to form a government after the fall of the Congress government.}}<br />{{small|([[President's rule]])}}
| 3 January 1974
| 6 March 1974
|align="center"|N/A
|
| align="center"|''Vacant''
|-
| 7
| S. Pakkiam
| 26 March 1974
| 28 March 1974
|rowspan=1| [[Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}" rowspan=1|
| align="center"|-
|align="center" rowspan=2|4th
|align="center" rowspan=2|1974
|-
|align="center" |-
| align="center"|''Vacant''{{refn|group=note|Fall of coalition government of ADMK, Congress(O) following division of votes by Congress(R) and DMK. The Assembly was dissolved.}}<br />{{small|([[President's rule]])}}
| 28 March 1974
| 2 July 1977
|align="center"|N/A
|
| align="center"|''Vacant''
|-
| 8
| K. Kanthi
| 2 July 1977
| 12 November 1978
|rowspan=1| [[Indian National Congress]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" rowspan=1|
| S. Pazhaninathan<br>(11 Aug. 1977 – 11 Nov. 1978)
|align="center" rowspan=2|5th
|align="center" rowspan=2|1977
|-
|align="center" |-
| align="center"|''Vacant''{{refn|group=note|Fall of government due to political instability.}}<br />{{small|([[President's rule]])}}
| 12 November 1978
| 16 January 1980
|align="center"|N/A
|
| align="center"|''Vacant''
|-
| 9
| [[M. O. H. Farook]]{{refn|group=note|Second term.}}
| 16 January 1980
| 24 June 1983
|rowspan=1| [[Indian National Congress]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" rowspan=1|
| L.Joseph Mariadoss<br>(29 Jan. 1980 – 23 Jun. 1983)
|align="center" rowspan=2|6th
|align="center" rowspan=2|1980
|-
|align="center" |-
| align="center"|''Vacant''{{refn|group=note|Government dismissed following withdrawal of Congress(I) from coalition government. In spite of incumbent chief minister asking for an opportunity to prove his majority on the floor of the house, the assembly was dissolved.}}<br />{{small|([[President's rule]])}}
| 24 June 1983
| 16 March 1985
|align="center"|N/A
|
| align="center"|''Vacant''
|-
| 10
| [[Kamichetty S.V. Rao Naidu]]
| 16 March 1985
| 19 January 1989
|rowspan=2| [[Indian National Congress]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" rowspan=2|
| M. Chandirakasu<br>(29 Mar. 1985 – 28 Mar. 1989)
|align="center" rowspan=2|7th 
|align="center" rowspan=2|1985
|-
| 11
| M. Chandirakasu
| 29 March 1989
| 5 March 1990
|P.K. Sathianandan<br>(5 Apr. 1989 – 4 Mar. 1990)
|-
| 12
| G. Palaniraja
| 22 Mar. 1990
| 3 Mar. 1991
|rowspan=1| [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}" rowspan=1|
| A. Bakthavatchalam<br>(29 Mar. 1990 – 3 Mar. 1991)
|align="center" rowspan=2|8th
|align="center" rowspan=2|1990
|-
|align="center" |-
| align="center"|''Vacant''{{refn|group=note|DMK Government dismissed in spite of having a majority in the Assembly.}}<br />{{small|([[President's rule]])}}
| 22 Mar. 1991
| 4 Jul. 1991
|align="center"|N/A
|
| align="center"|''Vacant''
|-
| 13
| [[P. Kannan]]{{refn|group=note|Deputy Speaker Shri A.V. Subramanian chaired the debate on the Motion of Confidence of
10 October 1994 and the Motion of No-confidence of 28 September 1995.<ref name="ref2004"/>{{rp|968}}}}
| 26 Jul. 1991 
| 13 May 1996
|rowspan=1| [[Indian National Congress]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" rowspan=1|
| A.V. Subramanian<br>(31 Jul. 1991 – 13 May 1996)
|align="center" rowspan=1|9th
|align="center" rowspan=1| 1991
|-
| 14
| V.M.C. Sivakumar
| 10 Jul. 1996  
| 18 Mar. 2000
|rowspan=1| [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}" rowspan=1|
|rowspan=3|V. Nagarathinam<br>(13 Jun. 1996 – 23 May 1997)<br>M. Kandasamy<br>(23 Aug. 1997 – 30 May 2000)<br>K. Rajasekaran<br>(30 May 2000 – 15 May 2001)
|align="center" rowspan=3|10th
|align="center" rowspan=3| 1996
|-
| align="center" |-
| M. Kandasamy{{refn|group=note|Deputy Speaker M. Kandasamy chaired the debate on the Motion of Confidence on that day.<ref name="ref2004"/>{{rp|968}}}}
|  27 Mar. 2000
|  27 Mar. 2000
| [[Tamil Maanila Congress]]    
|-
| 15
| A.V. Subramanian
| 24 May 2000
| 31 May 2001
|rowspan=3| [[Indian National Congress]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" rowspan=3|
|-
| 16
| M.D.R. Ramachandran
| 11 Jun. 2001
| 26 May 2006
| M. Chandirakasu<br>(5 Jul. 2001 – 10 Nov. 2001)<br>A.V. Subramanian<br>(12 Dec. 2001 – 11 May 2006)
|align="center" rowspan=1| 11th
|align="center" rowspan=1| 2001
|-
| 17
| [[R. Radhakrishnan (politician)|R. Radhakrishnan]]
| 1 Jun. 2006<ref name="HinduArticle2006">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/article3113785.ece|title=Radhakrishnan elected Speaker of Pondy Assembly|date=2006-06-02|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2020-06-17}}</ref>
| May 2011
| A.V. Sreedharan<br>(1 Jun. 2006<ref name="HinduArticle2006"/> - 3 Sep. 2008)<br> [[V. Vaithilingam]]<br>(4 Sep. 2008 - N.A.)
|align="center" rowspan=1| 12th
|align="center" rowspan=1| 2006
|-
| 18 
|  V. Sabapathy
|  29 Jun 2011<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://zeenews.india.com/home/sabapathy-set-to-become-puducherry-speaker_715884.html|title=Sabapathy set to become Puducherry Speaker|work=Zee news|date=28 June 2011|access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref>
| May 2016 
|rowspan=1| [[All India N.R. Congress]]
|style="background-color: #FFC000" rowspan=1|
| [[T.P.R. Selvame]]<br>(2 Nov. 2011<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2011/nov/03/tpr-selvam-elected-deouty-speaker-unopposed-306268.html|title=Sabapathy set to become Puducherry Speaker|work=New Indian Express|date=3 November 2011|access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref> - May 2016)
| align="center" |13th
|align="center" |[[2011 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election|2011]]
|-
|  19
| [[V. Vaithilingam]] 
| 10 Jun 2016<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.india.com/news/india/former-cm-v-vaithilingam-unanimously-elected-as-speaker-1252232/|title=Former CM V Vaithilingam unanimously elected as Speaker|agency=Press Trust of India|date=11 June 2016|work=Business Standard India|access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref>
|  21 Mar. 2019<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/politics/v-vaithilingam-resigns-as-puducherry-assembly-speaker20190322041807/|title=V Vaithilingam resigns as Puducherry Assembly Speaker|last=ANI|date=22 March 2019|work=Business Standard India|access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref>
|rowspan=2| [[Indian National Congress]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Indian National Congress}}" rowspan=2|
| V.P. Sivakolundhu<br>(10 Jun 2016 - 2. Jun. 2019)
|align="center" rowspan=2| 14th
|align="center" rowspan=2| [[2016 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election|2016]]
|-

|  20
| V.P. Sivakolundhu 
|  3 Jun. 2019<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/sivakolundhu-set-to-be-elected-pondy-assembly-speaker-119060200341_1.html|title=Sivakolundhu set to be elected Pondy Assembly Speaker|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2 June 2019|work=Business Standard India|access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref>
| 3 May 2021
| M.N.R. Balan<br>(4 September 2019<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/mnr-balan-assumes-charge-as-puducherry-deputy-speaker/article29344680.ece|title=M.N.R. Balan assumes charge as Puducherry Deputy Speaker|date=5 September 2019|work=The Hindu|access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref>- 3 May 2021)
|-
| 21 
| [[Embalam R. Selvam]]
| 16 June 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/150621/bjps-embalam-selvam-set-to-be-elected-speaker-of-pondy-assembly.html|title=BJP's 'Embalam' Selvam set to be elected Speaker of Puducherry Assembly|date=15 June 2021}}</ref>
| ''Incumbent''
|rowspan=2| [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|style="background-color: {{party color|Bharatiya Janata Party}}" rowspan=1|
| TBD
|align="center" rowspan=2| 15th
|align="center" rowspan=2| [[2021 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election|2021]]
|-
|}

==See also==
*[[Government of Puducherry]]
*[[List of Chief Ministers of Puducherry]]
*[[List of lieutenant governors of Puducherry]]
*[[Puducherry Legislative Assembly]]
*[[Pondicherry Representative Assembly]]

== References==
{{reflist}}

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}
;Footnotes
{{notelist}}

[[Category:Speakers of Puducherry Legislative Assembly| ]]
[[Category:Lists of legislative speakers in India]]
[[Category:Puducherry-related lists|Speakers of the Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Puducherry Legislative Assembly| ]]