It is official. Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur's recommendation for imposition of President's rule in the state has been considered and the Cabinet has
approved the same. However, Karnataka is not new to such a political development. In fact, this would be the fifth time that President's rule is being imposed in Karnataka.
The President's rule was imposed in the past -- Thrice when the Congress was in power in the state and once when erstwhile Janata Party was ruling the state.
For the younger generation in Bangalore, it will be a new phenomenon. There are many who say they do not know how the system will function under such a form of governance. However, old timers in the IT city believe that the situation brings about a sense of peace in the state with no politicking happening.
The first time the state was under the President's rule was in 1971. During this period, Congress leader Veerendra Patil was the chief minister of the state. He ruled the state between May 29, 1968 and March 18, 1971 before his government was reduced to a minority. As there was no other option before the then Governor, G S Pathak, he recommended the imposition of President's rule in the state. The assembly remained dissolved between March 19, 1971 and March 20, 1972.
However, this changed in the coming years with the new rule stating that a President's rule can remain in force for a maximum of six months only.
Karnataka then went in for polls in 1972 and saw stable governance for the next five years. The fifth assembly of Karnataka was historic, as the term of the assembly had been extended by one additional year vide 42nd
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