Vajpayee resigns as PM

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Thursday resigned following NDA's defeat in Lok Sabha elections but was asked to continue in office by President APJ Abdul Kalam till alternative arrangements were made.

The Prime Minister "has tendered his resignation and that of his colleagues from the Council of Ministers," a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said.

The President has accepted the resignation and requested Vajpayee and his colleagues to "continue in office till alternative arrangements are made," it said.

Shortly after an hour-long Cabinet meeting, Vajpayee drove to Rashtrapati Bhavan accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani and submitted his resignation. They were with the President for 15 minutes.