New Delhi, June 01: The Union Cabinet today recommended to President Pratibha Devisingh Patil to clamp President’s rule in Jharkhand and keep the state assembly under suspended animation after Chief Minister Shibu Soren resigned without facing the trust vote in the state assembly. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs met here today under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and took the vital decision of imposition of the President’s rule in the tribal state. Jharkhand Governor M O H Farook had sent his assessment of the situation late last night to the Centre after a day-long discussions with various political parties to explore the possibility of formation of an alternative government in the hung House. Now, the final call will be taken by the President for imposing the Centre’s rule in the state where elections were held only five months ago. Mr Farook is understood to have apprised the Centre that no political party was in position to provide a stable government in the state and no coalition appeared feasible.
The Soren Government was reduced to minority on May 24 when BJP with 18 MLAs and JD(U) with 2 MLAs withdrew support to the Guruji’s government whose party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha had 18 MLAs and was also enjoying the support of seven other legislators in the 82-member House. The BJP was cut up with Mr Soren ever since he voted with UPA in the Lok Sabha during voting on cut motions on April 27. Congress with the strength of 14 MLAs and its allies Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM)-Prajatantrik of former chief minister Babu Lal Marandi with 11 MLAs were also not in a position to form the government.
—–Agencies