PM submits resignation of Council of Ministers to Prez

 Paving the way for government formation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh submitted the resignation of the Council of Ministers headed by him to President Pratibha Patil on Monday, who asked him to continue till a new ministry is formed.       

Soon after the meeting of the Union Cabinet which decided to recommend to the President dissolution of the 14th Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister drove to Rashtrapati Bhavan to submit the resignation of his Council of Ministers to the President.         

"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.        

Earlier, the Cabinet passed a resolution on dissolution of Lok Sabha. The resolution was moved by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is also Leader of the House, and seconded by Singh.  
     
The Council of Ministers also met during which the Prime Minister thanked the allies for their support to the government in the last five years.