President's rule imposed in Jharkhand

Jharkhand on Tuesday came under Central rule with President Pratibha Devisingh Patil accepting a recommendation of the Union Cabinet after Congress and BJP gave up efforts to form an alternative government following resignation of Chief Minister Shibu Soren.
The state Assembly will be kept in suspended animation during President's rule, which has been imposed for a second time in two years. 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 Farooq to the Centre on Monday.
Farooq is understood to have recommended clamping of Central rule following his meeting leaders of major political parties in Ranchi. Congress and BJP had both indicated their inability to form an alternative government in the state. The Soren government was reduced to a minority on 24th May when BJP, with 18 MLAs and JD(U) with two, withdrew support to it. The 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 Lok Sabha on 27th April. Congress, with a strength of 14, and its ally JVM(P) with 11 members, had said it did not have the nmbers to stake claim to form a government. Jharkhand, which has seen seven chief ministers since its creation on 15th Novermber, 2000, came under President's rule for the first time on 19th January, last year, which was extended by six months in July.