Vora had wanted the Assembly dissolved on the day the Mayawati government had fallen, but was told by Union Home Minister S.B. Chavan, who was officiating in Rao’s absence, to keep the Assembly in suspended animation. The Governor’s plea of limited options due to the Supreme Court’s judgement in the S.R. Bommai case sounded much like an excuse. For, the judgement had only put reasonable restrictions on recurring arbitrary decisions by the Centre.
Suspense continued the day after Rao’s return. That afternoon Vora was told to cancel his departure to Lucknow, scheduled for the same evening. Things began to move around 8.30 pm. The Governor met Chavan, and then Rao. He was asked by Chavan to prepare a note recommending dissolution in view of the ongoing horse-trading among the parties aspiring for power.
The curtain was finally lowered on the fluid political situation in the country’s most populous state, when Rao informed President S.D. Sharma about the Cabinet decision at a late night meeting—an unusual proceeding as the President normally avoids meetings after 10 pm. The communique dissolving the Assembly was issued at midnight. The Cabinet was apparently divided, as was the Uttar Pradesh Congress, with a section favour-ing BJP rule to "further expose the minority government". Ultimately, Vora’s initial advice was endorsed. But it is still too early to say whether the Congress will gain in Uttar Pradesh.
