President dissolves 14th Lok Sabha

President Pratibha Patil on Monday dissolved the 14th Lok Sabha on the recommendation of the outgoing cabinet headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, reports HT Correspondent.

President Pratibha Patil on Monday dissolved the 14th Lok Sabha on the recommendation of the outgoing cabinet headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

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In an official communiqué released by the Rashtrapathi Bhavan, the president signed an order dissolving the Lok Sabha thus paving the way for the formation of the next government.

Earlier, Manmohan Singh met the President and submitted the resignations of the members of his council of ministers. Manmohan Singh, who also formally stepped down as prime minister, was asked to continue as the head of a caretaker government.

President Patil will invite Manmohan Singh to form the next government on Tuesday.

The tally of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance rose to 263 on Monday with the independent MP from Ladakh joining the National Conference, which is part of the UPA. Now the UPA is nine short of the magic halfway mark of 272 seats needed for majority in the 545-member house. Elected members of LS are 543. Two are nominated from the Anglo-Indian community by the president.

At the final cabinet meeting at the prime minister’s 7 Race Course Road residence, a resolution of appreciation for Manmohan Singh was passed.