New Delhi, January 19 2009: President's rule has been imposed in Jharkhand.

The Union Cabinet had earlier today recommended President's rule in Jharkhand, days after Shibu Soren resigned as Chief Minister.

According to PTI, the State Assembly has been kept under suspended animation to keep options of Government formation open.

"Keeping in mind the political uncertainty in Jharkhand for the last one week and recommendations made by Governor Syed Sibtey Razi the meeting has been convened on Monday to take a final decision and put its seal," said a source on Sunday.

The Governor on Friday had sent detailed report to the Union Government recommending President's Rule in Jharkhand and putting the Assembly in suspended animation.

In the report, Razi cited political instability in the State for making his recommendations.

The ruling UPA in Jharkhand led by JMM chief Shibu Soren had failed to reach a consensus on a new Chief Minister after "Guruji" stepped down from the post on January 12 following his defeat in the Tamar Assembly bypolls.

Spokesperson of the State unit of Congress Alok Dubey said the party, in principle, as agreed on President's Rule in Jharkhand.

"An emergency meeting of Congress general secretaries was convened in Delhi in the evening and it has been decided, in principle, that the state should be placed under President's Rule," said Dubey.

The decision of the party has great significance because it has nine MLAs in the Assembly and the UPA cannot form a Government without the Congress.

A former Minister said that since the Independents and Lalu Prasad-led RJD had already rejected Seraikela legislator Champai Soren as Guruji's successor, the decision of the Congress become all the more important.

"On the other hand, the main Opposition BJP had also met the Governor and demanded fresh elections making the task of the Union Cabinet easier," he added.

Meanwhile, Guruji was not discharged from the hospital on Sunday.

Apollo Hospital spokesperson Javed Akhtar said the condition of Soren is stable but decision to discharge him from the hospital will be taken on Monday.

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 .

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