Jharkhand Governor Syed Ahmed on Monday recommended central rule for the state with no party or combination of parties in a position to form a government after the JMM pulled the plug on the BJP-led Arjun Munda coalition government. Raj Bhavan had last week sent a preliminary status report to the home ministry but waited for a few days to determine if any political group or combination could realistically lay claim to form the government.

Munda had last week recommended that the governor dissolve the assembly to facilitate fresh elections.

Government sources said Ahmed had, however, recommended President's rule in the state by keeping the assembly under suspended animation.

Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who is away from the capital for the last two days, is expected to return later tonight and recommend central rule to the cabinet at its next meeting.