Date:18/08/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/08/18/stories/2002081805070100.htm

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Cabinet meet today

By Harish Khare

New Delhi Aug. 17. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, has summoned a meeting of the Union Cabinet tomorrow morning to formulate the Government's response to the Election Commission's ``no early elections'' decision in Gujarat.

Indications are that the Cabinet would want to suggest that the Election Commission has exceeded its institutional jurisdiction when it came close to suggesting that Gujarat be brought under Article 356.

Supporters of the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, in the Union Cabinet are inclined to confront the Election Commission. They want the Cabinet to provide some aid and comfort to the beleaguered Chief Minister.