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Modi dissolves Gujarat assembly,
recommends early polls

Barely two hours after the chief minister handed over his cabinet's resolution recommending dissolution of the assembly, early polls and continuance of his government in caretaker capacity, Governor S S Bhandari issued a notification dissolving the House.

He also asked Modi to continue as chief minister till alternative arrangements are made.

The decision, attacked by the main opposition Congress and Left parties, is seen as an attempt to force the Election Commission's hand in view of the constitutional bar on more than a six-month gap between two sessions of the House.

The House met last in April earlier this year.

The TDP, an important supporter of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, which had opposed early elections, has reacted cautiously to the development.

Last week, Chief Election Commission J M Lyngdoh, who had disapproved of the talk of early elections in Gujarat saying it was a 'few mad people who were talking about it without authority', on Friday declined to comment on the Gujarat cabinet's decision.

However, a delegation of eminent citizens led by former prime minister I K Gujral on Friday met the three-member Election Commission and urged against advancing the polls.

The delegation said it got the impression that there was no likelihood of early elections in the state whether or not the assembly is dissolved prematurely.

PTI

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