Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi resigned on March 17 ahead of the trial of strength in the state Assembly, following his inability to muster numbers in his favour.

The resignation came hardly an hour before the Assembly was to meet for a session convened by rebel Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari, who himself is the Opposition candidate for the next Chief Minister.

Marandi drove to Raj Bhavan on March 17 morning where he handed over his resignation to Governor M Rama Jois.

He told waiting reporters at the Raj Bhavan gate that he had submitted his resignation letter to the Governor.

Jharkhand was plunged into a serious political crisis on March 13 after the resignation of seven ministers and the Speaker's announcement of the defeat of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in voting on a cut motion on a money Bill.

The Assembly, with an effective strength of 79, was later adjourned sine die by the Speaker.

Marandi contested the claim of Namdhari that the government had lost on the opposition cut motion saying there had been no vote in the House. Namdhari sought Marandi's resignation.

Forty-two Legislators later met the Governor and staked claim to form a new dispensation but Namdhari did not accompany them.

PTI