The Himachal Pradesh assembly was Jan 29, 2003 dissolved by governor Suraj Bhan on the recommendation of the state cabinet to avoid a close call for a constitutional crisis arising out of the obligation to hold two sessions of the house within a six-month interregnum.
A notification to this effect was issued by the governor under article 174 (2b) of the constitution, soon after the resolution adopted by the state cabinet at its meeting at New Delhi was received, Raj Bhawan sources said.
The governor asked Chief Minister P K Dhumal to continue in office till the next government is formed, they said.
The dissolution of the Assembly, almost one month before the expiry of its term, had become inevitable to avert the constitutional crisis. The last session of the house had concluded on September 2 last and the winter session was not convened this year. The six-month period was to expire on march 2.
With the commencement of the poll process for February 26 Assembly elections, it was not possible to convene the Assembly session to meet the deadline of March 2.
