The Centre on Friday recommended dissolution of Andhra Pradesh Assembly and extension of the President’s rule there beyond April 30, circumventing the need for convening a Special Session of Parliament to ratify Central rule in the State.
The Union Cabinet recommended to the President the dissolution of the Assembly and extension of the Central rule, official sources said. The decision came following a report of Andhra Pradesh Governor ESl Narasimhan apprising the Centre of the prevailing political situation in the State.
The move will provide the Centre with two additional months before the President’s rule in Andhra Pradesh is ratified by the Parliament. Any proclamation under Article 356 imposing Central rule needs to be ratified by Parliament within two months.
Since three more phases of polling in the nine-phased lok Sabha elections are yet to be completed, it is difficult to convene Parliament just for the ratification of the President’s rule as most of the MPs are busy in electioneering, according to sources.
The move was taken in light of a provision in the Constitution which says “any such Proclamation may be revoked or varied by a subsequent Proclamation”.
President’s rule was imposed in Andhra Pradesh on March 1 this year after N Kiran Kumar Reddy resigned as Chief Minister following Parliament’s nod for bifurcation of the State to create Telangana. Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh are being held along with the lok Sabha polls and counting will be done on May 16.