Cabinet recommends President's rule in Jharkhand

Governor Syed Sibtey Razi had sent a detailed report to the Union Government recommending President's Rule in Jharkhand in view of the political instability in the state.

The Union Cabinet has recommended President's rule in Jharkhand, which is going through a political crisis following former chief minister Shibu Soren's defeat in by-election.

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The state assembly will now be in suspended animation.

A meeting of the Union Cabinet was convened on Monday and was expected to take a decision on imposing President's rule in the state.

Jharkhand Governor Sayyed Sibte Razi had on Friday last recommended President's rule in the state in the wake of the political turmoil.

Razi had sent a report to the President recommending Central rule and putting the Assembly in suspended animation. The report was forwarded to the government.

Razi is understood to have cited political instability in the state for making his recommendation after the ruling JMM-led coalition failed to reach a consensus on a new chief minister after JMM supremo Shibu Soren stepped down on January 12 following mounting pressure after he lost a Assembly by-poll. No other political formation also came forward to stake claim to form an alternative government.

Shibu had named party MLA Champai Soren as his successor, which was rejected by his allies Congress, RJD and some independent MLAs which provide crucial support to the Soren ministry. The two Sorens are not related. The main opposition BJP has demanded fresh elections.

RJD supremo Lalu Yadav did not favour President's rule in the mineral-rich state. State RJD leader Annapurna Devi said in Ranchi that central rule should be imposed only as a last resort. JMM being the single largest party in the ruling UPA coalition should take the initiative in hammering a consensus, she said.