Agartala, Jun 23 (IANS): The Tripura assembly will celebrate its golden jubilee from July 1, when a special one-day session will be convened, deputy speaker Pabitra Kar said here Sunday.

"A series of programmes would be organised to mark 50 years of the Tripura assembly," Kar told reporters.

A seminar would be organised in August to highlight the transition of Tripura from princely rule to democratic governance. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar would be the chief guest at the seminar.

At the end of several hundred years of rule by 184 kings, the princely state, along with Manipur, merged with the Indian Union in October 1949. It was then designated a union territory headed by a chief commissioner.

On July 1, 1963, the erstwhile Tripura territorial council was converted into the 30-seat Tripura legislative assembly by an act of parliament, with a council of ministers.

Veteran Congress leader Sachindra Lal Singh became the first chief minister of the state, heading a five-member council of ministers.

Under the North Eastern Region (reorganisation) Act, 1971, Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya became full-fledged states Jan 21, 1972, each having a 60-seat assembly.