JOIN USThe Union Cabinet on Thursday decided to revoke the President’s rule in Jharkhand, paving way for Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren to form the government with support from the Congress, RJD and independents.
“The Cabinet unanimously recommended revocation of President's Rule in Jharkhand,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said after the meeting of the Union Cabinet.
Congress has struck a “pragmatic pact” with Shibu Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha under which it would back the regional party to form the government in the state and in exchange get a lion’s share in the Lok Sabha seats in the state.
As per the agreement, Congress would get to contest 10 out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand and hopes to benefit from senior Soren’s influence in the tribal regions of West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Chhatisgarh.
RJD is also a part of the coalition but has been kept out of the alliance for the Lok Sabha elections, thus leaving a window open for a possible understanding with the JD(U).
Jharkhand Governor Syed Ahmed on Wednesday, in a report to the Centre, recommended revocation of President's rule. The state had been put under Central rule on January 18 after the JMM walked out of the alliance with the BJP, turning Chief Minister Arjun Munda’s government into minority.
Meanwhile, a JMM leader said Hemant Soren was expected to take oath as chief minister on Saturday morning along with a minister each from the Congress and the RJD. The new government in Jharkhand will be the ninth since the formation of the state in November 2000.
The present Assembly’s tenure ends in December 2014.