President okays dissolution of Assembly

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday gave his approval for the dissolution of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and a fresh proclamation for Central Rule in the State.

The President's nod came after the Union Cabinet had on Friday recommended dissolution of the State Assembly and proclamation of the President's Rule there beyond April 30, circumventing the need for a special session of Parliament to ratify the proclamation, official sources said. The move will help the Centre gain two more months before approaching Parliament for the mandatory ratification of President's Rule in Andhra Pradesh. Assembly elections are being held along with the LS polls. Sources said since three more phases of polling in the nine-phased 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.

Any proclamation under Article 356 imposing Central Rule needs to be ratified by Parliament within two months. Sources pointed to 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 separate Telangana.