Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Gujarat Cong MLAs want President's intervention

July 22, 2009 19:14 IST
Gujarat Congress president Siddarth Patel and state assembly leader Shaktisinh Gohil on Wednesday led a delegation of party Members of Legislative Assembly and state leaders to President Pratibha Patil to seek her  'constitutional intervention' in the state to restore democracy, peace and law and order.

A 7-page memorandum handed over to her points out collapse of governance under Bharatiya Janata Party chief minister Narendra Modi, but stops short of demanding imposition of the President's rule.

Gohil told mediapersons, "The President has certain powers under Article 355 and 356. We leave to her wisdom on what needs to be done to restore democracy in Gujarat. We have apprised her about the situation."

While Article 356 empowers imposition of the President's rule, Article 355 gives powers to the President to give directions to the state government. Gohil said they leave up to Pratibha Tai whichever action she finds fit.

A Correspondent in New Delhi