The Indian Express -- Politics

Sunday, November 30 1997

TMC stays "united" with Front

In a bid to dispel apprehensions about desertions from within their ranks, United Front constituents, including the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) and the Samajwadi Party (SP), yesterday staged another show of unity and expressed readiness to face elections together. Reiterating their commitment to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, they said the dissolution of the Lok Sabha and consequent elections were now inevitable as neither the BJP nor the Congress was in a position to form a government.

UF's fall hits Mahanta govt

The position of the Asom Gana Parishad-led (AGP) government in Assam headed by Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, has become shaky with the fall of the United Front government at the Centre. While the Congress is on the look-out to get Mahanta dismissed under any circumstances, the Chief minister's individual position too is rendered weak with the final report on the Letters of Credit (LOC) scandal nearing completion.

Gujral was forced to abandon dissolution move

Sharp differences in the Union Cabinet and members of the United Front's core committee forced Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral to submit the resignation of his Council of Ministers without recommending dissolution of the Lok Sabha. UF leaders had expressed serious reservations in taking the country to another mid-term poll at Front's core committee meetings. The Union Cabinet also failed to come up with a unanimous view on the issue and authorised the Prime Minister to take appropriate action.

UF's fall hits Mahanta govt

Both Houses may be adjourned sine die

Gujral was forced to abandon dissolution move

TMC stays "united" with Front

And BJP waits for Congress to break

President seeks legal advice, unlikely to dissolve House