NEW DELHI, 10 October 2007 — The federal Cabinet yesterday evening recommended the president’s rule in Karnataka, a day after the state’s Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy resigned when his government was reduced to a minority.
The Cabinet, presided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, recommended to the president to impose central rule in the state and keep the state assembly in suspended animation, said union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram after the meeting. He said: “According to the Bommai case judgment of the Supreme Court the state assembly cannot be dissolved till Parliament ratifies president’s rule in the state.
“Therefore, keeping in mind the Supreme Court directive, the Cabinet has recommended keeping the Karnataka Assembly in suspended animation till the next winter session of Parliament when it will come up for Parliament ratification.”
“Once Parliament has ratified president’s rule, the president will be free to exercise her discretion,” he said.
On Monday night, Karnataka Gov. Rameshwar Thakur recommended dissolution of the state assembly and imposition of the president’s rule in the state after Kumaraswamy submitted his resignation and the supporting Bharatiya Janata Party as well as the opposition Congress told the governor that they do not support the government of Kumaraswamy anymore.
