Governor for President's Rule in Jharkhand

Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibtey Razi today recommended President’s Rule in the state after the ruling JMM-led coalition failed to reach consensus on a new chief minister.

Razi sent a report to the President recommending Central rule and putting the Assembly in suspended animation, official sources said in New Delhi tonight. The president has forwarded the report to the Centre for action, the sources said. Razi is understood to have cited political instability in the state as the reason behind his recommendation.

The Union Cabinet is expected to meet tomorrow to discuss the governor’s report. Earlier in the day, the state unit of the Congress in Ranchi hinted that the delay in choosing a successor to JMM supremo Shibu Soren, who stepped down on January 12 following mounting pressure after he lost an assembly by-poll, may lead to the imposition of President’s Rule.

Sources said in Ranchi that the governor’s report detailed the current political scenario in the state following Soren’s resignation. Shibu later named party MLA Champai Soren as his successor, which was rejected by his allies.

Congress, RJD and some independent MLAs, who provide crucial support to Soren’s ministry. The two sorens are not related.

The main opposition NDA and other political parties have demanded fresh elections. RJD supremo Lalu Yadav is believed to be against the imposition of President’s rule in the mineral-rich state.