Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren resigned on Friday night after he failed to obtain a vote of confidence in the assembly as directed by the Supreme Court.

Raj Bhavan spokesman A N Jha told rediff.com over phone from Ranchi that Soren put in his resignation papers at around 2300 hours.

The Centre asked Soren to resign after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs convened by Prime Minsiter Manmohan Singh.

Singh was said to be upset over the political developments in Jharkhand and held consultations with allies on the matter.

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Ahead of the meeting, he held a round of discussions with Leftist leaders Harkishen Singh Surjeet, Prakash Karat and Abani Roy and spoke to Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader M Karunanidhi over telephone.

After the meeting, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said Soren should resign and the possibilities of installing an alternative government should be explored.

The new government should be asked to seek the vote of confidence in three-four days, he said.

Patil said constitutional propriety demanded that the incumbent government should resign.

He said Singh and his government were determined to see that the Constitution was followed in letter and spirit.