The fourth session of the 15th Puducherry Assembly is set to commence on September 20, 2023, according to Speaker R. Selvam. The session will begin at 9.30 a.m. and the duration will be decided by the Business Advisory Committee. Speaking at a press conference in Puducherry, Speaker Selvam addressed the demand for an apology from Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee chief V. Vaithilingam. The demand was related to the return of a plot of private land, which was acquired for the construction of a new Assembly complex at Thattanchavady, to the original owner. The Speaker stated that he had nothing to worry about and was even willing to refer the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if Mr. Vaithilingam consented. The Speaker recalled that the land was initially acquired during Mr. Vaithilingam’s tenure as Chief Minister. In 2009, the Madras High Court directed that the land be returned to the owner, and the then Lt. Governor had given permission. However, the land was only returned in 2018 when Mr. Vaithilingam was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. Mr. Selvam alleged irregularities in the process and expressed his readiness to refer the matter to the CBI. Additionally, the Speaker raised concerns about irregularities in the laying of electric underground cables from Poornankuppam to Pudukuppam and Kalapet by the Project Implementation Agency (PIA) under the Coastal Disaster Risk Reduction Project (CDRRP). He stated that he would recommend a detailed probe by the CBI during the forthcoming Assembly session.