President's rule imposed in Jharkhand

It would be the second time in two years that Jharkhand would be brought under the central rule after President Pratibha Patil accepts the recommendation of the Union Cabinet.

The Union Cabinet today recommended to the President to impose central rule in the mineral-rich state.

Jharkhand which has seen seven chief ministers since its creation on November 15, 2000 came under President's Rule for the first time on January 19 last year, which was extended by six months in July.

It was imposed when no party came forward for government formation after JMM chief Shibu Soren, who was in his second stint as chief minister, failed to enter the Assembly following defeat in the Tamar bypoll.

The Assembly elections in October/November last year threw up a fractured mandate again and Shibu Soren became the chief minister for a third time with the support of the NDA.
    
Soren had to resign on May 30 after the BJP withdrew support to his coalition government as a fallout of his voting for the UPA in a cut motion in the Lok Sabha.
    
The political uncertainty in the state goes back to March 2003 when the Babulal Marandi government fell on the floor of the Assembly.
    
This time, the BJP reportedly failed to reach a consensus between its leaders, former chief minister Arjun Munda and his former deputy Raghuvar Das, for the chief minister's post.
    
The political instability has seen Arjun Munda heading two governments, Soren three and Marandi and Madhu Koda one each.
    
"We tried our best to avert President's Rule, but were unfortunately unsuccessful in our endeavour," BJP state general secretary Ganesh Mishra said.
    
BJP spokesman Sanjay Seth said the state should not be kept under President's Rule for long and people should be given an opportunity to give their mandate in a mid-term poll at the earliest.