The BJP today announced that it has put on hold its earlier decision of withdrawing support to the Shibu Soren government in Jharkhand, a day after the coalition partner JMM said it was ready to back a government led by it.

A decision in this regard was taken at a hurriedly convened meeting of the Parliamentary Board of the party which is also reportedly exploring ways of government formation and was holding talks with its allies. The BJP yesterday paused withdrawal when its Jharkand unit deferred meeting Governor MOH Farooq over withdrawal of support.

The trigger for a rethink on the part of BJP over pressing for withdrawal of support was provided last night by a second letter from JMM legislature party leader Hemant Soren, son of Shibu, to BJP President Nitin Gadkari informing him that JMM would support a new government led by it.

"We are with NDA," Hemant said.

The BJP withdrew support on Wednesday angry over Shibu Soren siding with the UPA and voting against the BJP's cut motion in the Lok Sabha the previous day. Shibu's action was called a betrayal by the BJP which was also told by JMM that its supremo's action was a mistake. Soren had also apologised for his action.

"The JMM has decided and is ready to form a government headed by BJP. Today's Parliamentary Board meeting of BJP has taken cognisance of two letters(by JMM in this regard)) and it has decided that the party leadership will have consultations with our alliance partners in Jharkand.

Till then, the Board has decided to withold its decision to withdraw its support to the present government in Jharkand," senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar said. However, there are reports that the JMM itself is divided over supporting BJP.

After the BJP's pullout, the ruling coalition has been reduced to 28 from 46 in a House of 81. The JMM has 18 seats, BJP has 18 seats, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) has two seats, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) has five seats and Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch (JJM) has one seat in the assembly. The Congress has 14 seats.

BJP sources said the party has decided to explore the option of forming a government in Jharkhand. However, the party is in a quandary on the issue whether a tribal or a non-tribal should lead the government.

The sources said a section in the BJP Central unit feels making its Lok Sabha MP and former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha the Chief Minister would provide more political stability and a better leadership to Jharkhand.

However, another section in the party and many in the state unit feel ex-CM Arjun Munda should be the Chief Minister of the tribal-dominated state.

According to BJP insiders in Ranchi, Munda, who is also party's national general secretary Arjun Munda and Deputy Chief Minister Raghuvar Das have 'stepped up lobbying' for the CM's post.
Yesterday, Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Raghuvar Das had sought appointment with Governor M O H Farooq thrice but did not meet him in the wake of backdoor negotiations between the party and JMM.

In an earlier letter, Shibu Soren had apologised to the BJP top brass for voting against the cut motions in the Lok Sabha. Yesterday evening, Hemant had written a letter to BJP President Nitin Gadkari pledging support to a BJP-led government in the state.