Assembly dissolved, Prez rule to continue
New Delhi : The Centre on Friday decided to dissolve the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and continue President's Rule in the State beyond April 30.
The Union Cabinet, which met after a long gap due to the ongoing elections, issued a fresh recommendation for the President's Rule in the State along with the dissolution of the Assembly.
The recommendation was made after Governor ESL Narsimhan gave a report to this effect. The Centre, however, deferred constitution of the much-awaited Polavaram Special Purpose Vehicle as it could have touched a raw nerve in Telangana while providing fresh ammunition to the TRS.
While the Cabinet's decision is technically a re-promulgation of Article 356, it technically means President Rule would continue in the state till bifurcation of the state and constitution of two separate assemblies.
It may be noted that the current term of President's Rule expires on April 30.The government was constrained to issue a fresh promulgation as the government could not convene Parliament due to the dissolution of Lok Sabha and get its order ratified within the stipulated two months' time. The new order would be effective till the end of June. The appointed date for the creation of the two new states is June 2.
Significantly, the union cabinet deferred the constitution of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) on Polavaram. It is learnt that a call may be taken on the issue in the next cabinet meet.
Sources said the move to put off the decision was a strategic one as Telangana would have voted before the cabinet meets again. The centre does not want to hand over a ready-made weapon to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leadership just before Telangana goes to polls.
TRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao has been raising the pitch on Polavaram and opposing the transfer of submerged villages to Seemandhra tooth and nail.
The constitution of SPV would only make the going tougher for the Congress as Polavaram is a highly sensitive issue. The Congress has been walking on tightrope in order to balance the pressures on both sides of the divide.
News Posted: 26 April, 2014
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