<span style="color: #222222;">Puducherry BJP state vice-president, Thanka Vikraman, was administered the oath as a member of the legislative assembly by Speaker Sivakolunthu today. Mr. Vikraman was appointed by the union home minister as a nominated member to the  assembly on  29th January following the death of a nominated member Shankar.<br />''<br />''And With the recent exit of the two MLAs, the strength of the Congress in the Puducherry assembly has come down to 12, its ally DMK has 3 seats and 1 independent. The Opposition NR Congress has 7 MLAs, ADMK 4 and BJP 3.<br />''<br />''Assembly polls are due in Puducherry before May  along with Tamil Nadu.</span><br />