:The interim budget session of the Puducherry Assembly today adjourned sine die within half an hour of commencement of proceedings and after transacting the scheduled business.
The House passed through voice vote the Appropriation Bill (Vote on Account) tabled by Chief Minister N.Rangasamy in the session, earmarking Rs 2.550.09 crore to the government to enable it meet expenditure for the next six months from April to September during the 2014-15 fiscal.
(As the Lok Sabha poll had been notified and with the enforcement of the model code of conduct a full fledged budget could not be presented in today's session).
All seven opposition Congress legislators led by former Chief Minister and leader of the Opposition V Vaithilingam had earlier staged a walkout in protest against 'depriving' them of a chance to air people's problems.
Vaithilingam told Deputy Speaker V Sabapathy that holding the session after announcement of the LS poll schedule and implementation of the model code was an attempt to deprive them of the right to speak.
He also said that the House should have been convened for budget session in January as promised by the Speaker in the monsoon session in December 2013 for a detailed debate on various issues of public importance.
These legislators did not turn up till the House adjourned sine die..
AIADMK legislators Ohm Sakthi Segar and L Periasamy walked out in protest against holding the meeting without the Lt Governor's customary address, while A Anbalagan, A Baskar and P Purushothaman did so some time later, alleging the opposition was not given full opportunity to speak on several issues, including the one relating to the move to transfer Chief Secretary Chetan B.Sanghi.
Rangasamy told the House at one stage that though there was a communication from the Centre to transfer Sanghi,he had written to the Centre stating there was no necessity for it.
He told the opposition there could not be full fledged budget as the LS poll schedule was announced and it would be held later for longer period when they could air their views.
Opposition Congress and AIADMK members however walked out despite the Chief Minister's assurance.
The House earlier adopted a resolution condoling deaths of former legislators R Rajasekara Odayar (former Deputy Speaker) and Veerammal (Cong).All members observed silence for a couple of minutes in memory of the deceased legislators.
