gaddam@remus.rutgers.edu (Surekha Gaddam) (03/14/91)
The lower house of parliament has been dissolved. The dissolution of the Lower house came in within an hour of the upper house adjourning sine die. However, Mr.CS will continue as the caretaker Prime minister. All major political parties of the country have welcomed the the President's decision. The JD(S) has welcomed the announcement of mid term polls and expressed happiness that the president accepted the recommendations(s) of the PM Mr.Chandra Shekar. The party spokesman Mr.S.V.Malvia told newsmen in New Delhi that the Janata Dal(S) is ready for fresh polls and it will make Mr.Chandrashekar's govt performance during the last four months as an electoral issue. The Cong(I) president Mr.Rajiv Gandhi told UNI that his party has been pressing for fresh polls from the day Mr.CS resigned. The BJP president Mr.Lal Krishna Advani said his party welcomed the long awaited decision. Former PM and the JD leader MR.V.P.Singh said it is the correct decision. The CPI(M) leader Mr.Somnath Chaterjee said the left parties are fully prepared to accept the fresh mandate. The PM Mr.Chandra Shekar has said that the elections for the lower house will be held in the last week of May. He was talking to newsmen at the Patna air port in the eastern state of Bihar. He said his party is yet to make a decision to join electoral alliance with any other party. The chief election commissioner Mr.T.N.Sheshan said the polls for the lower house can be held sometime after the middle of May and the exact date will be announced after considering all aspects including law and order. Briefing newsmen he said, he has been in constant touch with the cabinet secretary and the union home secretary. Parliament today approved the extension of the President's rule in the northern state of Punjab beyond the 10th of May of this year. The resolution to this effect was adopted by the upper house by a voice vote. ______________________________________________________________________________ Edited by Surekha Reddy Gaddam. Please send your news articles pertinent to South asia to gaddam@remus.rutgers.edu. No one line news please. And there is absolutely no scope for discussions. ______________________________________________________________________________