Vajpayee meets Kalam on dissolution

The 13th Lok Sabha was adjourned yesterday ahead of its imminent dissolution.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee met President APJ Abdul Kalam to inform him of his Cabinet's decision to call for snap polls.

The Rajya Sabha passed the interim Budget for 2004-05 and after information of its passage was given to the Speaker, Manohar Joshi, he adjourned the Lok Sabha after recapitulating the highs and lows it had witnessed, including a terrorist attack and the demise of his predecessor, GMC Balayogi.

Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani and the Leader of the Opposition, Sonia Gandhi, were present in the Lok Sabha as Vande Mataram was played, marking the end of the session.

The 13th Lok Sabha was constituted on October 10, 1999. It held 356 sittings spread over 14 sessions.

"Very soon we will be going back to the people to seek their renewed mandate. Let us hope to meet again in the new House," Joshi said.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die by Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat after bidding goodbye to 22 members who are due to retire this year.

Retiring MPs thronged the souvenir shop outside the Lok Sabha to purchase last-minute mementoes of their membership of the House. Jokes about returning were cracked and the Prime Minister greeted colleagues as slogans of Har Har Mahadev and Jai Sri Ram were raised in the House.

The President is expected to proclaim the dissolution of the Lok Sabha tomorrow and ask Vajpayee to continue as the caretaker Prime Minister till a new government takes over.

The Election Commission is likely to hold consultations next week with political parties, security agencies and other departments that will man the process of elections, expected to start on April 15.