Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam will hoist the National Flag at Mahatma Gandhi square here on November 1, on the occasion of ‘Formation Day’ of Puducherry.
He will also honour freedom fighters of Puducherry on the occasion.
Holding of cultural programmes and other events would mark celebration of ‘Formation Day’, official sources said.
This is the first time in the post merger history of Puducherry that the day is being celebrated officially.
It was on November 1, 1954 that Puducherry and outlying regions of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam merged de facto with India after transfer of power from the French regime, after which they became Union Territories, a direct sequel to a referendum in October 1954 at Kizhoor, a border village.
A treaty was signed consequently between France and India effecting the de facto merger and was followed by de jure transfer of power on August 16, 1962 when all Indian legislations were introduced in Puducherry.
The first general election to constitute the territorial Assembly with 30 members was in April 1964. A Congress ministry came into being in the polls held to establish the Assembly as per provisions of the Representation of People Act.
