In its resolution, the BJP dwelt at length on the state of affairs in the state, it urged the President to urgently act on the recommendation.

The resolution pointed out that the BJP had often been the victim of misuse of Article 356 and averred that the BJP believed that elected governments should not be disturbed or dislodged.

``That Article 356 has been grossly abused a hundred times by the Congress and UF does not detract from the fact that it is a constitutional tool to save the people of a state that has slipped into anarchy and chaos. Such an occasion has arisen now,'' it stated.

Party vice president K L Sharma said later that if the matter was taken to court, the BJP was confident that it would be quashed. Emerging from the meeting, HRD Minister M M Joshi said, ``The President has no option but to implement the government's decision.''

In the Supreme Court's judgement in the Bommai case, the apex court had enumerated six conditions from which a constitutional breakdown could be justifiably inferred : largescale breakdown of law & order; gross mismanagement of affairs by the government; corruption and abuse of power; danger to national integration or security of the state; subversion of the Constitution; and non-compliance with directions of the Union. ``All these diverse situation prevail in Bihar today, amounting to constitutional breakdown,'' the resolution said.

The BJP, which until now was critical of dismissal of governments that enjoyed a majority, said that democracy was much more than numbers in a state assembly. ``Democracy is probity in public life and ethics in governance, it is governing as per the provisions of the Constitution.''

Taking a swipe at the Congress and Left parties, the resolution accused the CPM of compromising with unbridled corruption, communalism and casteism. Some months ago, the same Left parties had held a joint rally in Patna to demand that Laloo must go, it noted. As for the Congress, it said, it had lost its moral right to tell its workers to shun anti-social elements after supporting Laloo.

Alleging that more than Rs 10,000 crore had been ``looted'' from the state exchequer by Laloo and his coterie, the resolution said that Bihar had come to symbolise corruption in pulic life. Among the scandals mentioned were the fodder, bitumen, muster roll, land, medicine, forest and dhoti scams. The Bathe massacre, in which 61 people were killed, and the murder of three MLAS in a span of two months were indicative of the lawlessness prevailing in the state, it added.

Chaired by BJP President Kushabhau Thakre, the meeting was attended by Home Minister L K Advani, Industry Minister Sikander Bakht, HRD Minister M M Joshi besides other officebearers and members of the National Executive.