Date:27/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/27/stories/2007112761840100.htm

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President’s rule approved

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Parliament on Monday unanimously approved the imposition of President’s Rule in Karnataka and keeping the Assembly in suspended animation.

There was across-the-floor unanimity on the need for dissolving the Assembly at the earliest so that elections could be held to end the stalemate in the State.

Moving a resolution in both Houses seeking approval for the November 20 presidential proclamation under Article 356, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said the government intended dissolving the Assembly once it got the go-ahead from Parliament.

Four-hour discussion

Though Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee allotted only half-an-hour for discussing the resolution, it took four hours as members from Karnataka insisted on being heard.

With every member criticising the Janata Dal (Secular) and its president H.D. Deve Gowda, the Speaker allowed him an hour to respond.