The BJP leadership is grappling with the task of selecting a successor to Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, who resigned after he lost the confidence of the legislators of the ruling coalition.

"It is a complex situation, but our party will not be found wanting in taking corrective measures to prevent any kind of political uncertainty," said senior leader Jagdish Prasad Mathur.

He, however, was not willing to say who Marandi's replacement would be.

Though Union minister Karia Munda appears to be a likely candidate, the Marandi camp is believed to be opposed to him. Instead, Marandi wants state Home Minister Arjun Munda to take his place.

Perceived as a follower of Lal Kishenchand Advani, Marandi became chief minister with the blessings of the deputy prime minister piping Karia Munda, the other contender, to the post.

The latest crisis was triggered when seven ministers resigned on the floor of the assembly. The dissidents, along with opposition MLAs, later chose Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari  (Janata Dal -- United) as their leader and staked claim to form an alternative government.

The dissidents include legislators of the Samata Party, JD (U) and an independent.

However, Governor Rama Jois rejected their claim and asked the chief minister to prove his majority by March 31.

But with Namdhari determined to force the trial of strength in the Jharkhand assembly on Monday itself, Marandi put in his papers after failing to muster the requisite numbers.

BJP sources in the party's Ashoka Road headquarters later claimed that Marandi had managed to woo back two of the seven dissidents.

Marandi is keen to keep Namdhari out of the race for chief ministership.

The Marandi camp claims that by agreeing to become the leader of the dissidents, Namdhari has forsaken the post of the speaker, and, therefore, he is not authorised to convene the house for a trial of strength.

Karia Munda is an acknowledged tribal leader, but does not enjoy the confidence of the deputy prime minister.