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President's Rule in Bihar revoked

The government today decided to revoke the Presidential proclamation clamping central rule in Bihar, thus paving the way for the reinstallation of the Rashtriya Janata Dal government in the state.

Home Minister L K Advani told the Lok Sabha that the government had recommended revocation of President's Rule in Bihar ''this morning.''

''The President is out of station and is expected to return later this evening. All formalities regarding revocation will be completed as soon as he returns,'' the home minister said during Zero Hour.

An identical statement was made in the Rajya Sabha by Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Kumaramangalam.

The government had promised to inform Parliament today on the action to be taken on Bihar, an issue that had stalled proceedings of the two Houses last week.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee this morning held a Cabinet meeting, which felt that the best course was to revive the state assembly, which had been kept under suspended animation when the Rabri Devi government was dismissed on February 11.

The revocation of President's Rule became inevitable when Congress president Sonia Gandhi rejected the prime minister's appeal to vote for the resolution in the Rajya Sabha. Vajpayee had a 45 minute meeting with Sonia last evening in this connection.

With the Congress turning down the appeal the government was left with only two options -- to face ignominy of a defeat in the Rajya Sabha or revoke the proclamation and avoid embarrassment. The Cabinet chose to revoke the proclamation.

The resolution ratifying President's Rule was adopted by the Lok Sabha after a stormy two day debate last week with the government securing the support of 279 members. The Opposition could muster only 250 votes. Besides all the BJP's allies, the five member Bahujan Samaj Party voted for the resolution.

However, the ruling coalition can muster the support of around 80 members in the 245 member Rajya Sabha.

UNI

EARLIER COLUMN/REPORT:
Bofors and Bihar
BJP tells government to table Bihar resolution in Rajya Sabha

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