Haryana Assembly dissolved
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — Setting all speculations at rest, the Haryana Assembly was dissolved today by the Governor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, following a recommendation to this effect made by the state Cabinet.

Mr Om Prakash Chautala, who presided over the meeting which started in his office at 3.15 p.m. and lasted nearly two hours, met the Governor after the meeting and submitted the Cabinet proposal to dissolve the Assembly.

The Governor has issued a notification, dissolving the Assembly while asking Mr Chautala to function as the head of the caretaker government till the next elected government takes over.

Addressing mediapersons at his office after his return from Raj Bhavan at about 6 p.m., the Chief Minister announced that the Haryana Assembly was dissolved following a unanimous resolution passed at the Cabinet meeting.

The Chief Minister, who was clearly in a jubilant mood, said the Cabinet decision was prompted by the popular desire prevailing in the

state for going in for a fresh poll. “After the Lok Sabha results, which went overwhelmingly in favour of the INLD-BJP alliance, the people wanted a fresh mandate for the Assembly as well”, he said.

It may be mentioned here that The Tribune reported today that the Assembly’s dissolution was imminent while the Chief Minister stoutly denied this. What really made the decision possible today itself was that the two parties, the INLD and the BJP had broadly agreed on seat sharing and Mr Chautala also promised seats to some of his Cabinet colleagues.

Concessions and efforts to win all sections started from day one Mr Chautala assumed office.

It was grant for the Agroha medical college, doubling of the old-age pension from Rs 100, abolishing of the octroi, cut in market fee and other concessions. And, all this despite not a very happy fiscal situation. But it was on the power front that Mr Chautala was unable to fulfill his much-touted promise of free power and water to the farmer. This issue would be handy to the opposition.

The Chief Minister claimed that the BJP, the Independents, and the HVP (D), which subsequently merged with the INLD, which have been supporting the Government led by him, also wanted fresh elections in Haryana. In a lighter vein the Chief Minister cited that even the Opposition Congress wanted to have fresh Assembly elections in Haryana, and said since he believed in democracy, he had to bow to the popular demand.

He added that a lot of confusion was also created by periodic press reports about his plans to go in for mid-term poll. “Any policy announcement made by me, any meeting attended by me or a tour to a certain area were being interpreted by the press as moves made by me with an eye for the poll. Therefore, I wanted to end all confusion”.

Mr Chautala said that he would urge the Election Commission to hold the poll in Haryana simultaneously with Orissa, Bihar and Manipur, where the elections are likely to be held in March.

When his attention was drawn to the reported press statement by him at Kurukshetra yesterday when he allegedly said he was in favour of completing the full term of the Assembly, Mr Chautala replied that even on Tuesday he wanted to avoid the termination of the Assembly mid-way.

“In fact I was rather caught unawares as all members of the Council of Ministers today urged me to dissolve the Assembly and go in for fresh poll”, the Chief Minister told the amused newsmen.

The Chief Minister said that there would be a free and fair poll in Haryana under the supervision of the caretaker government.

Asked whether the HVP(D) members would be given the ticket by the INLD, Mr Chautala said he would not be able to answer this question as it fell in the domain of the party. “The issue of nominations will be decided by the party and Mr Devi Lal, who is the supreme leader of the party”, Mr Chautala said.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the former members of the HVP(D) and 4 Independent ministers attended today’s Cabinet meeting.