Press Trust of India / Shillong Mar 18, 2009, 12:52 IST
Centre today decided to impose President's Rule in Meghalaya where the NCP-led government survived a controversial confidence vote in the state assembly by a whisker.
A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The Centre had received a report from Governor R S Moosahary about breakdown of the Constitutional machinery in the state and recommended President's rule.
"After taking note of what happened in the Meghalaya state assembly yesterday, the Governor has reported that there is a breakdown of Constitutional machinery and recommended imposition of President's Rule and keeping the assembly in suspended animation," Home Minister P Chidambaram said.
He said the Governor's report was accepted by the Cabinet and a suitable recommendation was being sent to the President.
Aided by the Speaker who invalidated the votes of four rebel members ignoring the Governor's directive and exercised his casting vote to break a tie, the NCP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance government had yesterday survived a confidence vote in the assembly.
Speaker B M Lanong suspended five MLAs, who withdrew support to the government, under the Anti-Defection Law ignoring the Governor's directive that he maintain status quo on the voting rights of members and cast his vote when there was a tie in the 60-member House during division.
Content Guide
