'Jharkhand inching towards President's rule'

Ranchi: The Congress party on Friday said that Jharkhand was inching towards President's rule and that the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) was "not making any serious efforts to solve the crisis."

Alok Dubey, Jharkhand Pradesh Congress spokesperson, told IANS by telephone from New Delhi that "Jharkhand is inching towards president's rule. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's (JMM) stand is pushing the state towards President's rule."

Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren resigns

"The JMM is not making any serious efforts to solve the crisis. The JMM is sticking to the name of Champai Soren (as the next Chief Minister) who is not acceptable to UPA partners."

Asked about former state agriculture minister and JMM legislator Nalin Soren's name being floated in place of Champai, Dubey said: "The JMM has not come out with any second name."

"JMM leaders should come to New Delhi to discuss the political crisis and find a amicable solution. If the JMM sticks to it's stand, President's rule will be only option in the state."

BJP demands President's rule in Jharkhand

On Friday, a group of UPA leaders who had gone to New Delhi to discuss the political crisis returned to Ranchi. they included state Congress President Pradeep Balmuchu and former Deputy Chief Minister and Independent legislator Stephen Marandi.

Shibu Soren resigned Monday from the post of chief minister under pressure from the UPA leaders after he lost the Tamar assembly by-election on January 8.

The political crisis is lingering in the state as the UPA has failed to unanimously decide on the next chief minister of Jharkhand. Shibu Soren, who continues as the caretaker Chief Minister, was admitted to a hospital after he complained of chest pain on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, workers of Jharkhand's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a demonstration outside the governor's residence, demanding President's rule in the state.

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