Imphal, September 10: The short-lived 7th Manipur Legislative Assembly has been dissolved, bringing to an end one of the more tumultuous chapters of Manipur's political history.

An order to this effect, no GSR 651(E) dated September 7, 2001, has been issued by the President of India, KR Narayanan, and published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary.

The one paragraph order reads: "In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-clause (b) of clause (2) of article 174 of the Constitution, read with clause (a) of the Proclamation number GSR 410 (E), dated the 2nd June, 2001 issued under article 356 of the Constitution in relation to the State of Manipur, I, KR Narayanan, President of India, hereby dissolve the Legislative Assembly of the State of Manipur with immediate effect�.

The state law secretary has also issued a notification in this regard.

It may be mentioned that the Union cabinet had on September 4 last accepted the recommendation of the Manipur Governor, Ved Prakash Marwah, that the state Assembly be dissolved, and subsequently made the same recommendation to the President.

The Governor's recommendation was made under Article 174(2b) of the Constitution.

The Assembly was placed under suspended animation, and President's Rule imposed in the state on June 2 last after prolonged political instability.

Parliament, in its recently concluded monsoon session, passed resolutions approving the step.

It may also be mentioned that the Union home minister, LK Advani had earlier announced in Parliament that the state Assembly would be dissolved and fresh elections would be held.

A campaign mounted by the state's MLAs to prevent dissolution of the Assembly failed to make any impression on the Central government.

There is no word yet as to a decision on when fresh elections will be held.

Knowledgeable sources however believe elections would be held before the end of the year.

The 7th Manipur Legislative Assembly came into being on March 8 last year, following elections held in February.

The 15 month period during which the Assembly was functioning saw two governments in power, one under W Nipamacha and another under Radhabinod Koijam, a string of defections and re-defections and a power struggle between NDA partners the BJP and the Samata Party that finally led to the downfall of the Koijam government and imposition o President's Rule.

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