Lok Sabha dissolved
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Agency
New Delhi, May 18 2009:
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday called on President Pratibha Patil at the Rashtrapati Bhawan and handed over his resignation as well as that of his Council of Ministers.
The President, in turn, issued orders to dissolve the 14th Lok Sabha with immediate effect, paving the way for constitution of the new House which is expected later this month.
The President is expected to invite the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), which has emerged as the largest pre-poll alliance with 261 Lok Sabha seats, tomorrow to form the next government at the Centre.
"The Prime Minister has submitted the resignation to the President who asked him and his Council of Ministers to continue in office till an alternative arrangement is made," a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson said.
The meeting between the President and the Prime Minister lasted for about 35 minutes.
The PM is believed to have held talks with the President on the formation of the next government.
The development came after the outgoing Union Cabinet met at the PM's residence � 7, Race Course Road � for the last time and passed a resolution recommending the President to dissolve the 14th Lok Sabha.
The President has already spoken to several constitutional experts, including former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee, after a clear verdict emerged in favour of the UPA post Lok Sabha polls.
The Congress-led UPA, which is over 100 seats ahead of its nearest rival, the BJP-led NDA, is falling short of 11 seats from the 272 half-way mark in Parliament.
However, the alliance is believed to have mustered the required support to form the government at the Centre.
The Congress is planning to approach the President with letters of support from at least 20-30 more MPs that will obviate the need for a Confidence Vote in Parliament.
A three-member Election Commission (EC) team headed by Navin Chawla was expected to formally submit the list of newly-elected Lok Sabha members to President Patil today.