New Delhi, Mar 08: The crisis in the Babulal Marandi ministry in Jharkhand showed no signs of relenting as a meeting of top leaders of coalition partners JD (U) and Samata Party Friday night failed to mollify their rebel ministers adamant on the chief minister's removal. At a two-hour meeting attended by Samata party president George Fernandes, Railway Minister Nitish Kumar and JD (U) chief Sharad Yadav, it was decided to authorise the Defence Minister to talk to Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani Saturday as a last ditch effort to end the stalemate, sources said.
Half way through the meeting, four rebel ministers heading the oust-Marandi campaign- Madhu Singh, Ramesh Munda, Jaleshwar Mahato (all Samata) and Lalchand Mahato of JD (U)-were asked to join the meeting. Another rebel minister belonging to Samata party Bachcha Singh was not available as he had already left for Ranchi. The meeting convened by Fernandes follows separate talks the rebels have already held with Yadav and Kumar during their stay in the capital. Bureau Report