Main Page                                                 Archive

Bihar under President's Rule

     New Delhi: President's rule has been imposed in Bihar as the Union Cabinet today endorsed the state Governor's proposal of President rule. The state Assembly has been put under suspended animation, which means that the options for government formation are open. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, however, skipped the cabinet meeting saying that he was against the imposition of President's rule in the state. "I am not going to the Cabinet meeting as my party has been opposed to imposition of President's Rule in the state, especially after the people have given their verdict and RJD has emerged as the single largest party," Prasad said before the meeting. He further said that he was leaving for Patna tonight. The keyman of this whole episode LJP President and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan also didn't attend the meeting.

     The cabinet meeting came a day after the Governor of Bihar, Buta Singh, recommended for the imposition of President's Rule in Bihar, as no party or alliance of parties was in a position to claim the magic figure of 122 seats required to form a stable government. The Governor decided on President's rule as the state government's five-year term ended at midnight on Sunday. The decision came after a non-ending deadlock situation. Lok Janshakti Party chief Ramvilas Paswan was stuck to his original position of not extending his support to the RJD in government formation. The RJD also conceded to have lost the battle while readying itself for the Central Rule. RJD sources admitted that no party in the state had the numbers to form a government. This is the eighth occasion when President's Rule has been imposed in the state. It was first imposed in January 1968 and lasted for a month. In July 1969, President's rule was imposed again in the state. This time it lasted till January 1970. Thereafter it was imposed in early 1972 and continued till March that year. Then the state went under President Rule twice in 1977 and 1980. It was imposed again in 1995 after which Lalu Prasad Yadav, then belonging to the Janata Dal, took over. After a month of President's rule in 1999, Lalu's wife Rabri Devi became the Chief Minister of the state.

Bihar CS orders CM's office to return files (Go To Top)

     Patna: In a complete role reversal in Bihar, the Chief Secretary of the state, K.A.H.Subramaniam, has ordered the removal of files from the offices of caretaker Chief Minister Rabri Devi and her ministerial colleagues. The decision comes in wake of the end of the term of the outgoing assembly of Bihar. Subramaniam has also written to the principal secretary to Rabri Devi to return all the files to his office. The Chief Secretary has also said that he would issue a separate circular today on withdrawing facilities allotted to the ministers, including vehicles and telephones.

Ten Maoists killed in AP (Go To Top)

     Nizamabad: At least ten Maoist Naxals, including a senior leader of the outfit, were killed in an encounter with police in a forest in Nizamabad district of Andhra Pradesh early today. The district committee member and senior Maoist leader, Ramesh was also among those killed in the exchange of fire near Manala, informed police. However, the identification of those killed is yet to be ascertained. Police also recovered eight weapons, including an AK 47, and two SLRs, from the site.

---