Union Cabinet recommends President's rule in Jharkhand

The Union Cabinet on Thursday recommended imposition of President's Rule in Jharkhand, which is facing political instability after the collapse of the Arjun Munda-led Bharatiya Janata Party-Jharkhand Mukti Morcha coalition government last week.

According to television reports, the recommendation in this regard comes on the basis of a report on the political situation in Jharkhand prepared by Governor Syed Ahmed and sent to the ministry of home affairs.

The recommendation was made in the governor's second report to the central government in the wake of the resignation of Chief Minister Arjun Munda, who also sought the dissolution of the assembly after the JMM withdrew support to his government.

The Cabinet on Thursday discussed the governor's report as well as the home ministry's note on the Jharkhand situation before taking the decision.

Jharkhand, which was created in 2000, has been placed under President's Rule twice.

The present political instability erupted on January 8 when BJP's ruling coalition partner JMM, in a letter to the governor, formally withdrew its support to the government, pushing it into a minority.

Relations between the BJP and the JMM came under strain since the chief minister rejected that there was an agreement between the two parties on rotation of power after 28 months in office.

JMM supremo Shibu Soren needs 42 votes to muster a majority for his party in the 82-member House, but it will be six short even after adding Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal votes.

The BJP and JMM have 18 members each in the Jharkhand assembly. The Congress has a total of 13 members.

Jharkhand has seen eight governments in the last 12 years.