Centre decides to revoke President's rule in Karnataka

New Delhi, May 28 : The Union Cabinet last evening decided to revoke the President's rule in Karnataka, which has been in force since November 20 after the BJP-JD-S coalition government fell due to inter-party differences.

The cabinet's decision came in the aftermath of the BJP emerging the largest party winning 110 seats in the just concluded Assembly elections. Only yesterday, five Independents announced their support to the BJP, thereby raising the tally to 115, two more than the requisite 113 to attain simple majority in the 224-member strong Assembly.

Earlier, during the day (yesterday) Leader of the Opposition LK Advani spoke to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh requesting him to lift President's rule in the state as his party was going to stake the claim to form the next government.

The Prime Minister spoke to his Home Minister Shivraj Patil, and after discussing the matter with him, he got back to Advani and assured him that the process of lifting the President's rule would be initiated soon and that the BJP need not fear any delay.

Thereafter, in the evening a union cabinet meeting took place under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, where it was reportedly decided to recommend the revocation of Centre's Rule in the state.

The Central rule, which was to expire on May 19 last, was extended by another six months by the Parliament.

In other related developments on Tuesday, Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur invited BJP's chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa to form the government in the state, after the latter met him to stake claim to form the government saying, "We have the numbers".

ANI