New Delhi, Nov. 24 -- The seven-month-old IK Gujral-led United Front Government collapsed on November 28, 1997, with the Congress withdrawing support and staking claim to form an alternative government.

Gujral tendered his resignation from the seven-month-old ministry but did not recommend dissolution of the Lok Sabha.

In his resignation letter submitted to President KR Narayanan, the Prime Minister said he was resigning following withdrawal of support by the Congress on unjustified grounds.

The withdrawal of support by the Congress brought the curtains down on the two-week-long political uncertainty, triggered by its demand for the ouster of the ministers of the DMK from the government on the grounds that the Dravidian party had been ...