Bangalore: Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur recommended imposition of President's rule in the state following the fall of the JD(S)-BJP coalition ministry and dissolution of the state assembly, paving the way for fresh elections.

Minutes after Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy submitted resignation of his council of ministry, the Governor sent a report to the Union Home Ministry recommending Central rule and dissolution of the assembly, Rajbhavan sources said.

On being bluntly told by the Governor that the numbers were not in his favour in the wake of BJP withdrawing support to the government headed by him, Kumaraswamy dropped plans to face a floor test and tendered his resignation.

This is the second coalition ministry to collapse in Karnataka since the 2004 assembly elections that threw up a fractured mandate. In January last, Congress-JD(S) coalition led by N Dharam Singh was toppled by Kumaraswamy who later formed the government with BJP support and became the Chief Minister.

Following refusal by JD(S) to transfer power to BJP in tune with the power-sharing pact entered into between the parties, the saffron party pulled down the Kumaraswamy ministry yesterday.