The deepening political crisis and uncertainties in the Jharkhand state following the resignation of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha president Shibu Soren as chief minister after his defeat in a by-poll eventually led the Governor Syed Sibtey Razi on Friday to recommend imposition of President’s rule in the state.

Syed Sibtey Razi sent a report to the Centre on Friday recommending the imposition of Article 356 in the state on the ground of political instability.

He also recommended the Assembly be kept under suspended animation, sources said.

Earlier on Friday, the Congress party gave a signal for the imposition of President’s rule in the state, saying the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) was not making any serious efforts to resolve the crisis. The Union Cabinet is likely to take up the issue here on Saturday.

The President’s rule had become inevitable as the two chief constituents — the JMM and the RJD — in the state government could not reach on any common decision over the name of the chief ministerial candidate. The other alliance partner, Congress had declined to meditate, putting the responsibility on the JMM to resolve the crisis.

Shibu Soren had nominated his close associate Champai Soren, MLA from Seraikela, as his successor which was outrightly rejected by the RJD, not willing to accept Champai’s candidacy at any cost.

On the contrary, the JMM chief rejected RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s attempts to field former chief minister Madhu Koda for the post.

In the 81-member assembly, the JMM has strength of 17, while its alliance partners Congress and RJD have 9 and 7 MLAs respectively.

The constitutional crisis occurred after JMM chief Shibu Soren, who was reappointed as Chief Minister of Jharkhand on August 27 last year, faced substantial defeat in the by-election to the Tamar assembly constituency to political novice Gopal Krishan Patar alias Raja Peter of the Jharkhand Party on January 9, 2009. Consequently, he had to resign from his post.

Now amid the NDA and oppositions’ demand of fresh election, the Centre has only three options: either fresh election (which is a distant possibility), or a consensus chief minister, or the President’s rule.