Hemant Soren invited to take oath as CM today

Ranchi, July 13: Jharkhand Governor Syed Ahmed on Saturday invited JMM Legislature Party leader Hemant Soren to form an alternative government in the state. The invitation came after the Presidential assent to the Union Cabinet's recommendation to revoke the central rule was received late on Friday night, Principal Secretary to the Governor, N N Sinha told PTI here.

Soren will take oath at 9.30 AM at the Birsa Mandap situated in the premises of the Raj Bhavan. Congress Legislature Party leader Rajendra Prasad Singh and RJD Legislature Party leader Annapurna Devi will also take oath as ministers, official sources said.

The Governor invited Soren after the latter staked claim on July 9 to form a government in alliance with Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, smaller parties and independent MLAs. Soren, who gave the Governor a list of 43 MLAs support in the 82-member Assembly, is expected to expand his ministry after taking the floor test.

The alternative coalition comes nearly six months after the imposition of the President's rule. The central rule was imposed on January 18 after the JMM withdrew support to the BJP-led government under Arjun Munda on January 8. The JMM had extended support to the BJP on September 11, 2010, ending the President's rule then.

The central rule was imposed after the BJP had pulled out from the Shibu-Soren led alliance on May 24, 2010, as JMM chief had voted along with the UPA in a cut motion in Lok Sabha that year.

President's rule revoked in Jharkhand

The nearly six-month-long President's rule in Jharkhand was revoked on Saturday to pave the way for installation of a government led by JMM leader Hemant Soren.

"The President of India Pranab Mukherjee has today (July 13, 2013) signed the Proclamation under clause (2) of the article 356 of the Constitution revoking the Proclamation issued on 18 January 2013, in relation to the State of Jharkhand," a press release issued by Rashtrapati Bhawan said on Saturday morning.

The President's rule was imposed in the state on January 18 over political instability.

PTI