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Gujarat Chief Minister Dilip Parikh quits

Gujarat Chief Minister Dilip Parikh resigned on moral grounds, paving the way for the installation of President's rule in the state.

Parikh tendered his letter of resignation to Governor Krishnapal Singh on Monday evening after consultation with his cabinet colleagues earlier in the day.

Parikh, who had earlier sought the dissolution of the House, was consistently under pressure from the Congress, which had withdrawn support to his ministry.

Both Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party leaders demanded Parikh's resignation and the imposition of President's rule in the state.

Before Singh dissolved the House, the BJP had also staked its claim of majority support to form the government, a claim the governor rejected.

The Congress was taken aback by the government's decision to seek dissolution of the House without consulting it, the supporting party. So it demanded dismissal of the ministry and imposition of the President's rule. The state Congress leadership also discontinued the dialogue with the Rashtriya Janata Party for seat adjustment for the Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

But the Congress high command prevailed upon the state leadership and decided to go in for seat adjustment with the RJP in Gujarat. That was when Parikh claimed that he could not continue as caretaker chief minister and resigned on moral grounds.

EARLIER REPORT:
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Gujarat governor may impose President's rule<.FONT>
Gujarat assembly dissolved<.FONT>
BJP stakes claim in Gujarat<.FONT>

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