Three nominated BJP MLAs stage a protest in front of the Legislative Assembly as they were stopped from entering the premises in Puducherry on Monday. | Photo Credit: S.S. Kumar more-in Three BJP MLAs, nominated to the House by the Centre, V. Swaminathan, K.G. Shankar and V. Selva Ganapathy were stopped from entering the Puducherry Assembly on Monday. The nominated legislators staged a protest outside the Legislative Assembly after Speaker V. Vaithilingam denied them permission in spite of the High Court order upholding their appointments as valid. Deputy Inspector General Rajiv Ranjan said they could not be allowed inside the Assembly as the order of the Speaker had to be implemented. The first session of the 30-member Puducherry Assembly commenced on Monday with the customary address of Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi. Also Read Speaker, nominated MLAs stick to their stand The three BJP members were nominated by Ms. Bedi last year. Mr. Vaithilingam had on November 12, 2017 cancelled their nominations, declaring them invalid. Mr. Vaithilingam informed the three members through Assembly Secretary A. Vincent Rayar that he would make a decision “shortly” after consulting legal experts and “until then there would be no change in my decision announced on November 12 last year”. The Speaker's communication to the three members was a reply to their letters he and the Assembly Secretary had received on March 24 and 25 requesting them to comply with the March 22 High Court order upholding their nominations. (With inputs from PTI)

Stay updated with all the Latest Puducherry headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.