Karnataka was on Tuesday brought under Central rule after collapse of the JDS - BJP coalition government with a Presidential proclamation that kept the state assembly in suspended animation.

President Pratibha Patil signed the declaration under Article 356 soon after the Union Cabinet recommended imposition of Central rule and suspension of the House pending Parliament's approval of the proclamation, Home Ministry sources said.

They said the proclamation to this effect would be issued by the ministry.

The stage for imposition of President's rule in the state was set on Monday night when Governor Rameshwar Thakur recommended the measure after Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy resigned on being bluntly told by him that he did not have the required numbers to win a floor test.

The decision to impose President's Rule was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the recommendation of the Governor after BJP withdrew support to the Kumaraswamy government when it refused to transfer power to it.

The Cabinet approved the Governor's recommendation to impose President's rule in accordance with the Bommai judgment under which the President's only power is to keep the assembly in suspended animation till the proclamation was ratified by both houses of Parliament, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said after the cabinet meeting.

"The Presidential proclamation will be tabled in the winter session of Parliament," he said, adding the assembly would be dissolved after that.

The Finance Minister said the Governor had not recommended dissolution of the assembly while recommending imposition of President's rule. Karnataka is the first state to be brought under Central rule since Pratibha Patil became the President in July this year.

Here in the State capital, Anugraha, the official residence of the former Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy wore a deserted look that is because he was at his guest house on C. V. Raman Road. There were many MLAs with him along with some party activists. JD (S) Supremo H. D. Deve Gowda, who spoke to the media at his residence, said that his party would prepare for the mid - term polls.

Congress camp was jubilant over its successful strategy in bringing down the Government with its decision not to support JD (S) to form the Government.

Meanwhile, the BJP is busy with its Dharma Yatra. Talking to the media, Yediyurappa challenged the Centre to hold elections in the State if it had courage within a month.

Kumaraswamy at his guest house was busy answering phone calls from his party men, well wishers and also rival party activists. All the three mobile phones of Kumaraswamy were switched on. While some congratulated him on his decision of not transferring power to the BJP, some others criticised him for listening to his father's advice.

Empty Vidhana Soudha:
The Vidhana Soudha looked lifeless as it was free of politicians and their supporters. However, employees of the various departments were seen arranging files and records at leisure.

Workers of PWD were seen erasing the designations on the name plates of the former Ministers at their respective residences. The work to remove name plates in the Ministers' Chambers will begin soon after the promulgation of Presidential rule.

The only option:
While welcoming the Governor's decision to recommend President's rule, former Law Minister D. B. Chandre Gowda said that the Governor had left with no other option.

Chandre Gowda who is now in Delhi, told our correspondent that with the BJP withdrawing support and the Chief Minister resigning the Governor was left with no other option. He criticised both the BJP and JD (S) for attempting to form a Government even after the Governor had taken a decision.

"Is it child's play? Once the BJP withdraws support and Kumaraswamy resigns, they cannot change their decisions. There is no provision in the constitution, to change a decision every now and then", he added. Chandre Gowda said that he held discussions with Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi for nearly an hour yesterday and said "we discussed several issues pertaining to the State."

Courtesy: Star of Mysore

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