Himachal Assembly Dissolved

The Himachal Pradesh assembly was dissolved yesterday, almost a year ahead of its five-year-tenure, to pave the way for simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha as well as the state assembly.

Governor VS Rama Devi, dissolved the assembly on the recommendation of the state cabinet.

Chief Minister Vir Bhadra Singh met the Governor immediately after the cabinet meeting and recommended dissolution of the state assembly.

Singh, who was with the Governor for nearly 45 minutes, told newsmen after the meeting that the assembly had been dissolved and his government would continue in office till a new government was formed after the fresh assembly elections.

 

The five-year-term of the assembly was to expire on December three, 1998.

This is the first time since 1967 that the Lok Sabha and assembly elections would be held simultaneously in the state.

The assembly dissolution did not come as a surprise as speculations were rife ever since the Lok Sabha was dissolved. Singh had met chief election commissioner MS Gill last week and pleaded for holding simultaneous polls to the state assembly. The CEC had reportedly told the Chief Minister that the commission would come into picture only after the assembly was dissolved.

The government was expected to make a formal request to the CEC for holding elections to the assembly alongwith the Lok Sabha. The polling in three snowbound tribal assembly constituencies of Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti and Bharmaour were not likely to be held before May next year.

The Congress had 52 members in the dissolved House followed by the BJP (7) and independents (7) and two expelled Congress members.

Meanwhile, in Gujarat Chief Minister Dilip Parikh yesterday asked Governor Krishna Pal Singh to dissolve the state assembly.

Parikh, in a letter submitted to the Governor, said the recommendation had the approval of the cabinet which met earlier in the day.

The cabinet wanted to hold the state assembly elections along with the Lok Ssabha elections, he saidafter his meeting with the governor. He said the governor has accordingly sent his recommendation to the Centre.