Punjab Governor dissolves assembly

Chandigarh March 12 (IANS) Punjab Governor V.P. Singh Badnore on Sunday dissolved the Punjab assembly following a resolution passed by the outgoing state cabinet.

The order stated that the 14th Vidhan Sabha stands dissolved from March 12.

The decision recommending the dissolution was recommended by the state cabinet at its last meeting chaired by outgoing Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here on Sunday.

Badal then submitted his resignation to the Governor.

At the same time Congress leader Amarinder Singh was unanimously elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) paving the way of his becoming the next chief minister and met the governor to stake claim to form the next government.

The Congress returned to power after 10 years winning 77 seats in the 117-member assembly while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) managed to win 20 seats and ally Lok Insaaf Party two seats.

The Shiromani Akali Dal won 15 seats while its ally the Bharatiya Janata Party won three seats.

--IANS
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