Top Congress leaders today discussed the evolving political situation in Jharkhand, which is currently under President's Rule, in the wake of BJP and JMM coming together again and staking claim to form a government.
In the meeting of the core group, which lasted for over an hour, home minister P Chidambaram is learnt to have briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi on the situation in the state and options before the UPA.
The meeting was also attended by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, defence minister AK Antony and law minister M Veerappa Moily.
BJP and JMM are tying up again after splitting three months back following cross voting by JMM chief Shibu Shoren in Lok Sabha during cut motions in the Budget session in April brought by BJP and Left parties.
BJP has again agreed to form a government after JMM announced "unconditional" support to it .
Congress, which has 14 MLAs and its ally JVMP 11 MLAs in a House with an effective strength of 81, has so far been reluctant to go for any alternative government formation in the tribal state due to "trust deficit" with JMM.
Sources said the Centre would prefer to wait and watch before taking any final decision.
Government is likely to wait till the governor sends his report to the Centre on the situation in the state.
The Congress core group meeting is also learnt to have taken note of the troubled history of BJP-JMM coalition in the state.
A section in the party is of the view that the state assembly, which has so far been kept in suspended animation, should be dissolved to pave the way for fresh elections there.
Another section wants continuation of the President's Rule for a longer term till an alternative option emerges.
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