Jharkhand Mukti Morcha supremo Sibu Soren submitted his resignation on Monday as Chief Minister of Jharkhand for the second time in four-and-a-half years to Governor Syed Sibtey Razi.
Razi accepted the resignation and asked Soren to continue as the caretaker chief minister till an alternative arrangement was made.
Earlier at 11.40 am, Stephen Marandi, the deputy chief minister, set the stage by putting in his papers.
Minutes later, Soren drove to Raj Bhawan with his wife Rupi Soren, son Durga and five ministerial colleagues to resign.
Soren said he responded to his soul after his defeat in the Tamar by-election. He said, “I waited for the UPA’s response to the selection of Champai Soren as the next chief minister.”
On Sunday, Soren sent a fax message to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Congress in-charge of Jharkhand Ajay Maken, apprising them of his party’s decision to continue with the United Progressive Alliance, with Champai Soren as the new chief minister.
Sonia remained silent, while Prasad asked Soren to resign first.