Ranchi:
The BJP-led government in Jharkhand convened an emergency Cabinet meeting today morning in which it recommended the dissolution of the state Assembly. This comes a day after Shibu Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha or JMM threatened to withdraw support from the government.
None of the JMM's five ministers were present in the meeting.
JMM chief Shibu Soren, meanwhile, met Governor Syed Ahmad to formally withdraw support.
The main point of dispute is over who should be chief minister. The JMM alleges that a pact entitles it to the post this week, half-way through the government's term. But Mr Munda has reportedly denied that this agreement exists.
"The Bhartiya Janata Party is ruling the coalition, and it's their responsibility also that how they handle this," said Hemant Soren, JMM leader and Deputy Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
The BJP and Mr Soren's JMM have 18 members each in the 81-member state Assembly. Without the support of the JMM, the government, led by the BJP's Arjun Munda, is in a minority.
Mr Soren's party is also reportedly upset with senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament from the state Nishikant Dubey for speaking out against JMM leaders repeatedly.
The Congress has 13 state legislators, but the party has said that till Mr Soren formally exits the government, it will not consider the option of trying to gather the numbers to stake claim.
(With inputs from agencies)