Munda resigns after JMM ends support

Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda resigned Tuesday after the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) formally withdrew support to his government.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader met Governor Syed Ahmd just before noon and handed over his resignation.

The Munda government was Monday reduced to a minority after the JMM announced that it was pulling out of the coalition ministry.

The crisis was triggered by Munda's letter of Jan 3 stating that the chief minister's post would not be given to the JMM when the government completes 28 months in office.

The Jharkhand cabinet Tuesday recommended the dissolution of the assembly.

The BJP-led government was formed in September 2010 with the support of 18 JMM, six All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) and two JD-U legislators. The BJP also has 18 legislators.