# 1959 Pondicherry Representative Assembly election

After the de facto merger on 1 November 1954 and before the legal integration with the Indian Union on 16 August 1962, second general elections were held in August 1959 to constitute Second Pondicherry Representative Assembly.

## Background

the Congress, with the support of independents, was able to form a Government after first elections in 1955. However, that government was not stable as the ruling party was ridden with personal strife and factions. The Government of India had to intervene finally by dissolving the Assembly and the Chief Commissioner took over the administration in October 1958. Later, after nine months, second general elections were held to the Pondicherry Representative Assembly in 1959 from 11 to 14 August.

## Results

The results of 1959 election were summarized below:$^{:197}$
| Parties and Coalitions | Won | Votes | Vote % | Change |
| Indian National Congress | 21 | 60,636 | 38.4 | 1 |
| People's Front | 13 | 49,505 | 31.6 | 1 |
| Independents and others | 5 | 47,162 | 30 | |
| TOTAL | 39 | 1,57,030 | 100 | N.A. |
Another reference with some change in voteshare were summarized below:
| Parties and Coalitions | Won | Votes | Vote % | Change |
| Indian National Congress | 21 | 64,000 | 41.1 | 1 |
| People's Front | 13 | 53,800 | 34.3 | 1 |
| Independents and others | 5 | 38,600 | 24.6 | |
| TOTAL | 39 | 1,57,000 | 100 | N.A. |
However, during 1963, the state of parties in the Representative Assembly was: Congress, 24; People's Front (Makkaḷ Munnaṇi (Tamil:மக்கள் முன்னணி)), 12; Praja Socialist Party, 1; Independents, 2.$^{:475}$

## Members of the 1959 Pondicherry Representative Assembly

Members of the 1959 Pondicherry Representative Assembly :
| S. No | Name | Constituency | Region | Party |
| 1 | Kamisetty Savithri | Anakalapettai | Yanam | Ind. |
| 2 | Kamisetty Parasuram Naidu | Andhrapettai | Yanam | Ind. |
| 3 | P.C. Purushottam Rettiar | Archivak–Tavalacoupom | Pondicherry | Congress |
| 4 | K.Ramanujam | Ariankuppam | Pondicherry | P.F. |
| 5 | K. Subrahmania Padayachi | Bahour | Pondicherry | Congress |
| 6 | M.M.Hussein | Bussy Street | Pondicherry | P.F. |
| 7 | Annamalai Naicker | Embaralam-Kalamandapam | Pondicherry | Congress |
| 8 | S. Somasundara Chettiar | Kalapet | Pondicherry | Congress |
| 9 | Mohamed Ismail Maricar | Karikal North | Karikal | Congress |
| 10 | K.E.M. Mohamed Ibrahim Maricar | Karikal Central | Karikal | Ind. |
| 11 | K.V. Prosper | Karikal South | Karikal | Congress |
| 12 | K.S.Govindaraj | Karaikovil Pathu | Karikal | Congress |
| 13 | Smt. Saraswathi Subbiah | Kasikaddai | Pondicherry | P.F. |
| 14 | P.C. Murugaswamy Clemenceau | Kurichikuppam | Pondicherry | P.F. |
| 15 | R.L. Purushottam Reddiar | Kuruvinattam-Kariambuttur | Pondicherry | Congress |
| 16 | V.Ramaswamy Pillai | Madhakovil | Karikal | Congress |
| 17 | C. E. Barathan | Mahe Town | Mahe | Congress |
| 18 | Édouard Goubert | Mannadipet | Pondicherry | Congress ` |
| 19 | V.Subbaiah | Murungapakkam-Nainar Mandapam | Pondicherry | P.F. |
| 20 | P. Abraham | Muthialpet | Pondicherry | Congress |
| 21 | P. Shanmugam | Nedungadu | Karikal | Congress |
| 22 | N. Govindaraju | Nellitope Town | Pondicherry | P.F. |
| 23 | D. Rathinasabapathy Pillai | Neravy | Karikal | Congress |
| 24 | Venkatasubba Reddiar | Nettapakkam | Pondicherry | Congress |
| 25 | N. Guruswamy | Oulgaret | Pondicherry | P.F. |
| 26 | R. Vaithilingam | Ooppalaom | Pondicherry | P.F. |
| 27 | R. Pakir Mohammed | Oossetteri | Pondicherry | P.F. |
| 28 | P.K.Raman | Palloor | Mahe | P.S.P. |
| 29 | V.N.Purushottama | Panthakkal | Mahe | Congress |
| 30 | A. S. Gangeyan | Rajbhavan | Pondicherry | Congress |
| 31 | V.Narayanaswamy | Reddiarpalayam Town | Pondicherry | P.F. |
| 32 | P.Narayana Swamy | Saram and Lawspet | Pondicherry | P.F. |
| 33 | S. Natarajan | Sellipet-Souttoukeny | Pondicherry | P.F. |
| 34 | K. M. Guruswamy Pillai | Thirumeni Alagar | Karikal | Congress |
| 35 | V. M. C. Varada Pillai | Thirumalayapattinam North | Karikal | Congress |
| 36 | Nagamuthu Pillai | Thirumalarayanpattinam South | Karikal | Congress |
| 37 | Subbarayulu Naicker | Tirunalar-Badrakaliamman Kovil | Karikal | Congress |
| 38 | Soundarassamy | Tirunalar-Darbaranyeswarar Koil | Karikal | Ind. |
| 39 | M. Chidambaram | Villenour | Pondicherry | P.F. |

## Council of ministers of Reddiar (1959-1963)

Under supervision of then chief commissioner L.R.S Singh a Council of ministers was formed under leadership of V. Venkatasubba Reddiar: on 9 September 1959.$^{:966}$ President of the assembly that is equivalent to speaker was A. S. Gangeyan.$^{:475}$
| Minister | Portfolio |
| V. Venkatasubba Reddiar Chief minister | Public Works, Electrical, Fisheries and Port |
| Édouard Goubert | Finance, Labour and Industries |
| C. E. Barathan | Local Administration, Education and Transport |
| Gouroussamy Pillai Revenue minister | Revenue, Veterinary and Information |
| P. Shanmugam Agriculture minister | Agriculture, Rural Development and Harijan Welfare |
| Mohamed Ismail Maricar Health minister | Health, Hygiene and Co-operation |

## Council of ministers of Goubert (1963-1964)

The French settlements of India were de jure transferred on 16 August 1962. Pondicherry Representative Assembly functioned until June 30, 1963, and succeeded by Puducherry Legislative Assembly. The Indian Parliament enacted the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 that came into force on 1 July 1963, and the pattern of Government prevailing in the rest of the country was introduced in this territory also, but subject to certain limitations. Edouard Goubert became the chief minister in the subsequent Pondicherry Legislative Assembly.
In the First Legislative Assembly of Pondicherry, under supervision of then chief commissioner S.K. Datta a Council of ministers was formed under leadership of Édouard Goubert: on 1 July 1963. Speaker was A. S. Gangeyan.
| Minister | Portfolio |
| Édouard Goubert Chief Minister | Confidential and Cabinet Department, Home Department, Appointments Department, General Administration Department (except Information, Publicity and Government Press,) Education Department, Legislative and Judicial Department, Industries Department, Finance Department and any other business not allocated to any other Minister |
| V. Venkatasubba Reddiar Development minister | Five Year Plans-Planning, Implementation and Evaluation, Public Works Department, Electricity, Fisheries, Port, Government Press and Statistics |
| Gouroussamy Pillai Revenue minister | Revenue Department, Animal Husbandry, Information and Publicity Department |
| Mohamed Ismail Maricar Health minister | Medical and Public Health Department, Co-operation and Town Planning |
| M.K.Zeevaratnam | Local Administration Department, Labour Department, Social, Child and Women's Welfare |
| V.M.C. Varada Pillay Agriculture minister | Agriculture, Community Development and Local Development Works |

## Trivia

In Yanam, for Kanakalapeta constituency, two independents secured exactly 707 votes each and so to decide the winner, lots were cast. Finally, Kamichetty Savithri was declared winner. In the same constituency, Congress candidate polled only 8 votes.