Ruling Congress nominee P. Kannan was on Saturday elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from the lone seat in the Union Territory of Puducherry.
Returning Officer M. Sivaprakasam announced Kannan’s election in a release here at the end of the deadline for withdrawal of nominations.
Mr. Kannan, the former home minister of the Union territory, had merged his Puducherry Munnetra Congress (PMC), founded in 2005, with the Congress on August 29.
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The nomination of Mr. Kannan alone was found in order during scrutiny of papers on September 24 while that of four independents rejected for various reasons, including lack of supporters.
The seat fell vacant on May 16 following the resignation of Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs V. Narayanasamy after he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Puducherry in the general elections.
With the merger of the PMC, the strength of the Congress in the 30 member Assembly has increased from 10 to 13 and the V. Vaithilingam Government is supported by the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (seven) and three independents.
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