Veteran Congressman and former Rajya Sabha Member Virendra Kataria (80) on Wednesday was sworn in as the Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Puducherry.
He is the 21st Lieutenant Governor since the merger of Pondicherry, which was the former French Colony, with India.
Acting Chief Justice of the Madras High Court R.K. Agrawal administered the oath of office and secrecy at a simple but majestic ceremony held at Raj Nivas, the official residence of the LG, here.
As per tradition, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy and Chief Secretary Chetan B. Sanghi escorted the LG-designate to the dais, who was accompanied by Chief Justice Agrawal. Mr. Sanghi read out the warrant of President Pranab Mukherjee who appointed Mr. Kataria as the LG. Later, along with Inspector General of Police R.S. Krishnia, the new LG inspected a guard of honour presented by the Puducherry police. V. Narayanasamy, Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office, V. Kothandaraman, Speaker, P. Kannan, Member of Parliament, Pierre Fournier, Consul General of France, former Chief Ministers V. Vaithilingam and R.V. Janakiraman, M.D.R. Ramachandran and S. Ramasamy and others took part in the ceremony.
Ministers, senior officials, Members of Legislative Assembly and leaders of various parties, including the Congress, All India N.R. Congress, the DMK, the AIADMK and others greeted the Lieutenant Governor.
