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ShareNew Delhi: Jharkhand is set for the second six-month spell of President's Rule with the Union Cabinet today deciding to recommend its extension beyond July 18 as no party or group has been able to form a government there.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters here after a Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, that the decision was taken on the basis of the report of Governor Syed Sibte Razi sent on June 16.
In his report, the Governor said that political impasse continues in Jharkhand as no party or group has staked claim to form the government, she said.
The recommendation will be placed in Parliament during the ongoing session for its approval, she said.
The President's Rule was imposed in Jharkhand on January 19 because of political instability created by the resignation of Shibu Soren as Chief Minister following his defeat in Assembly bypolls from Tamar constituency.
Soren was heading a JMM-led UPA coalition government. After his resignation, no alternate government could be formed as UPA failed to reach a consensus on Soren's successor.
In the 81-member Assembly, JMM has 17 Legislators, while Congress has 9 and RJD 7.
The Assembly has been kept under suspended animation to enable any party or group to muster the majority and form the government.
Fresh elections to the Jharkhand Assembly are to be held by March next year when the term of the present House will end.
Soren stepped down as chief minister on January 12 when he failed to get elected as an MLA within the stipulated six months of taking over the reins of the state.
JMM tried to form an alternative government but its ally Congress was not in a mood.
Both the parties held parleys to hammer out a consensus but in vain.
The effective strength of the 82-member Jharkhand Assembly at present is 73 and for a simple majority, at least 37 MLAs are needed. Congress claims that it has the support of 40 MLAs.
