CREATE TABLE table_204_54 (id DECIMAL, "pondicherry assembly" TEXT, "duration" TEXT, "name of m.l.a." TEXT, "party affiliation" TEXT, "election year" DECIMAL)

what was the name of m.l.a. previous to the current one ?
SELECT "name of m.l.a." FROM table_204_54 WHERE id = (SELECT MAX(id) FROM table_204_54) - 1
SELECT "name of m.l.a." FROM "table_204_54" WHERE "id" = (SELECT MAX("id") FROM "table_204_54") - 1