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Cabinet to recommend dissolution of Lok Sabha

The Union Cabinet today decided to recommend the dissolution of the 12th Lok Sabha, paving the way for a mid-term poll.

The decision was taken at a 90-minute meeting of the Union Cabinet convened today after President K R Narayanan summoned Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for consultations yesterday evening.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Pramod Mahajan told the media after the meeting that the 13th Lok Sabha has to be constituted by October 21 as there cannot be a gap of more than 180 days between the sessions. The last Lok Sabha session was held on April 22.

Replying to a question, Mahajan blamed the Congress and the Left Front for creating hurdles in the smooth functioning of the Vajpayee government. They did not have any alternate arrangement to govern the country but pulled down the present one for 'no reason' and thrust another snap poll on the country in three years.

He said the responsibility now lies with the Congress and the Left. ''The people will give them a befitting reply during the coming elections,'' he added.

Replying to another question, Mahajan said Vajpayee continues to be the caretaker prime minister.

He said all BJP allies have decided to fight the next election together. ''We may get two more allies by the time we go to polls,'' he said. However, he refused to identify the new allies.

Mahajan said the delay in coming to a decision on the President's directive was due to procedural matters. He said Attorney General Soli Sorabjee was asked to attend the Cabinet meeting for consultations.

''We have no complaints with the President. He did what best he could do under the given circumstances,'' he said.

''The caretaker government will prefer mid-term polls either some time in May-June or September-October this year. Personally speaking, he said they would prefer elections in June ''as the September Monsoon is worse than the June monsoon''.

He said the BJP did not want to head a caretaker government for more than six months. Asked if the party had an edge over the rivals, he said the people were angry with the Congress and the Left for pulling down the Vajpayee government without any rhyme or reason.

The members of Parliament belonging to the BJP and its allies will meeting later in the day to take stock of the situation, arising out of the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.

Meanwhile, the national executive of the Bharatiya Janata Party will meet in New Delhi on May 1 and 2 to discuss the latest political situation.

The decision was taken at an informal party meeting in New Delhi this morning, BJP vice-president Krishan Lal Sharma said.

UNI

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