Ranchi, December 26: The arrest of ex-chief minister Madhu Koda on corruption charges and the brutal beheading of a police officer by Maoists rocked Jharkhand in 2009, a year which also saw the state going under President’s Rule and assembly elections that threw a hung verdict.
The year started with signs of political instability as JMM supremo Shibu Soren had to step down after failing to enter the state assembly, drubbed by a relative greenhorn in politics in the January 3 Tamar bypoll.
Jharkhand came under President’s Rule as no combination came forward to stake claim for the formation of a fifth government in as many years.
Assembly elections were held towards the end of the year but the state again returned a fractured verdict in which JMM appeared to be holding the key to the new government.
–PTI