President's rule imposed in Jharkhand

Imposed second time in two years; Assembly will be kept in suspended animation.

Jharkhand today came under Central rule with President Pratibha Patil accepting a recommendation of the Union Cabinet after the Congress and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) gave up efforts to form an alternative government following the resignation of Chief Minister Shibu Soren.

The state Assembly will be kept in suspended animation during President’s Rule, which has been imposed for the second time in two years, a Rashtrapati Bhavan official said.

A meeting of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, had this morning recommended to the President imposition of Central rule on the basis of the report of Jharkhand Governor M O H Farook to the Centre yesterday.

Farook is understood to have recommended clamping of Central rule following his meeting with leaders of major political parties in Ranchi. Congress and BJP had both indicated their inability to form an alternative government.

The Soren government was reduced to a minority on May 24 when the BJP, with 18 MLAs and Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) with two, withdrew support to it. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), with 18 MLAs and having the support of seven other legislators, was short of the required 42 in the 82-member House.

The BJP took the decision after Soren voted against the cut motions sponsored by the opposition in the Lok Sabha on April 27.

Congress, with a strength of 14, and its ally Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) with 11 members, had said it did not have the numbers to stake claim to form a government.

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.

Central rule was then imposed as 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 his defeat in the Tamar bypoll.

The Assembly elections in October-November last year threw up a fractured mandate and Soren became the chief minister for a third time with the support of the NDA.

The political instability in the state has seen Arjun Munda heading two governments, Soren three and Babulal Marandi and Madhu Koda one each.

On the developments this time, BJP state general secretary Ganesh Mishra said in Ranchi, "We tried our best to avert President's Rule, but were unfortunately unsuccessful in our endeavour."

BJP spokesman Sanjay Seth said the state should not be kept under President's Rule for long and people should be provided an opportunity to give their mandate at the earliest.

BJP demands dissolution of Jharkhand Assembly
BJP today demanded dissolution of the Jharkhand Assembly.

"The state Assembly in Jharkhand be dissolved immediately and a fresh poll be held to elect a new government," BJP general secretary and Bihar unit in-charge of the party Ananth Kumar told reporters here.

The Congress should not try to rule Jharkhand through the back door after imposition of President's Rule in the state, he said.

Congress blames BJP
With Jharkhand coming under Central rule after political parties failed to form an alternative government, Congress today alleged that BJP's lust for power led to the current situation.