Click to play videoNew Delhi: The Union Cabinet, which met early on Tuesday morning, decided to accept the recommendation of Governor of Karnataka for proclamation of President's rule in the state. This will be followed by dissolution of the Assembly.
However, with elections scheduled in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh in December, Karnataka may witness a longish spell of President's rule before going to the polls.
The BJP says elections should now be called at the earliest.
On Monday night the Cabinet met at the Prime Minister's residence to discuss the Karnataka crisis, but it proved to be inconclusive.
The meeting could not arrive at a decision because the Cabinet did not have all requisite papers, Law Minister H R Bharadwaj said outside the Prime Minister's residence.
Earlier, it was believed that the meeting was that of Political Affairs Committee and not a full-fledged meet and the meeting has to take place before Manmohan Singh leaves for his week-long tour outside the country.
Exactly seven days after he took oath as Chief Minister of Karnataka, B S Yeddyurappa handed over his resignation letter to the Governor on Monday.
Yeddyurappa was in the Governor's office even before the vote of confidence he had called was conducted. He knew he couldn't have won that vote. His alliance partner, the JD(S), led by H D Deve Gowda pulled out from supporting him on the floor of the House.
The JD(S) has blamed the BJP for the collapse of the government. The 12-point memorandum of understanding given by the JD(S) that the BJP didn't agree to, was put forward as the immediate provocation.
But the real rift was over the control of the Bellary mines and some crucial portfolios like ports and urban development that both parties wanted to keep for themselves.
By Monday evening, the sun finally set on the BJP's political ambition south of the Vindhyas. The first BJP chief minister in the south had bowed out of office.
But with the Congress waiting on the sidelines, this will not be the end of the political nataka in Karnataka.
It's a new low for Karnataka politics and the stable government the people want is a long way away.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.