These legislators were making desperate attempts to ensure formation of an alternative government in the state.

Many of these legislators had also travelled to New Delhi and met central Congress leaders like Ahmed Patel and Jharkhand in-charge of Congress Kesav Rao.

'The Congress is playing dirty politics in the state. It was the Congress which ensured that president's rule was imposed in the state,' said an independent legislator.

President's rule was imposed in Jharkhand Jan 19 after Shibu Soren quit as chief minister Jan 12.

Soren quit after he lost the Tamar assembly byelection which he needed to win to remain as the chief minister.

The Lok Sabha Tuesday extended president's rule in Jharkhand by six months even as Chidambaram told the house that elections to the state assembly may be held by the end of September.

'It is my intention to ask the Election Commission to hold elections in the state as early as possible. It is possible by September end. We will hold elections soon after the monsoon,' Chidambaram said in the Lok Sabha.