After Ramakrishna Hegde quit on moral grounds, Mr. Bommai took charge as Chief Minister of the State on 13 August 1988 and his government was dismissed by the then Governor, P. Venkatasubbaiah, on 21 April 1989.

The dismissal was on the grounds that his government had lost its majority following large-scale defections engineered by several Janata Party leaders of the day.

Bommai had sought some time from the Governor to prove his majority on the floor of the Legislature and he was denied this.

The apex court spelt out restrictions on the centre's power to dismiss a state government under Article 356.

Instances of imposition of President's rule have reduced after this judgement.