Ashok Anand takes oath as Thattanchavady MLA in Puducherry

N.R. Congress candidate N. Ashok Anand, who won the Thattanchavady Assembly by-election in Puducherry, was sworn in as a Member of the Legislative Assembly on October 14.
The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Speaker’s office in the Puducherry Assembly in the presence of Chief Minister N. Rangasamy. Pro-tem Speaker Anbalagan administered the oath to Ashok Anand. Chief Minister Rangasamy and other leaders congratulated him on assuming office.
The by-election was necessitated after Rangasamy, who won from both Thattanchavady and Mangalam in the Assembly election held in April, resigned from the Thattanchavady seat.
In the by-election held on October 6, Ashok Anand secured a decisive victory with 13,358 votes, reportedly polling 3,334 votes more than Rangasamy had received in the constituency. Congress candidate Vinayagam finished second with 4,876 votes.
Ashok Anand’s victory allows the N.R. Congress to retain the Thattanchavady seat, following the Chief Minister’s decision to vacate it after winning from two constituencies.