President's rule imposed in Jharkhand

NEW DELHI: Jharkhand on Monday was placed under President���s rule. The Cabinet, which met this morning, recommended central rule while putting the state assembly under suspended mode.

The Opposition, which has been demanding dissolution of the state assembly, said the new situation will encourage horse trading by major players. The central rule was prompted by the refusal of lead UPA players to accept Shibu Soren���s nominee as the next chief minister of the state.

���If any party has adequate numbers, a government can still be formed in Jharkhand. We opted for President's rule as there was no consensus among UPA allies on forming an alternative government right now,��� RJD supremo Lalu Prasad told reporters this evening.

Asked whether JMM, which has the maximum number of MLAs among the UPA, should have been given the chance of forming the government, he said: ���nobody can form a government with just 17 MLAs. We made Soren chief minister twice. The situation is, however, not the same now.���

The state, which went to polls in 2005, has seen three chief ministers with Soren becoming the chief minister on two occasions, BJP's Arjun Munda for 17 months and Madhu Koda, an independent backed by Congress and JMM, occupying the post for almost two years.

The Naxal-hit state has been in existence for the last eight years. The BJP came to power with thumping majority in November 2000 after the state formation. The BJP government was headed by Babulal Marandi was replaced by Arjun Munda by the party in 2003.
Blaming Mr Soren squarely for the present situation, former deputy chief minister and independent legislator Stephen Marandi said: ���Soren's blind love for family and lack of political vision has pushed the State back many years. Soren created the political crisis after losing the by-election���. Asked about the decision to keep the State assembly under suspended animation, he noted that UPA still enjoys the majority. ���We have to choose a leader by consensus. The day we select a consensus leader, we may stake claim to form an alternate government,��� Mr Marandi said.

Meanwhile, JMM has denied allegations that it was responsible for President's rule. ���As directed by the central leaders, we chose our party leader. The other partners of UPA failed to put their seal on the name. Shibu Soren cannot be blamed for the present crisis,��� said Supriyo Bhattacharya, general secretary of the JMM.