The Union Cabinet on Tuesday urged President Pratibha Patil to impose central rule in Jharkhand after the resignation of Chief Minister Shibu Soren ahead of a trust vote in the assembly.
The Cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, decided to recommend to the President to keep the state assembly in suspended animation and impose central rule in the state.
Jharkhand Governor M O H Farooq had sent his report to the Centre on Monday after the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party gave up efforts to form a government. Farooq is understood to have recommended President's Rule after meeting leaders of major political parties in Ranchi.
The Soren government was reduced to a minority on May 24 when the BJP, with 18 Members of Legislative Assembly and the Janata Dal - United with two MLAs, withdrew support to it.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, with 18 MLAs, had the support of seven other legislators. But it fell short of the required 42 seats in the 82-member House.
The BJP took the decision after Soren voted against the cut motions sponsored by the Oopposition in the Lok Sabha on April 27. The Congress, with a strength of 14 MLAs, and its ally Jharkhand Vikas Manch - Prajatantrik with 11 members, said it did not have the numbers to stake claim to form a government.
