Ranchi: Samata Party president George Fernandes on March 11 told the rebel ministers that there would not be any "immediate" change in leadership of the coalition of Jharkhand, one of the dissidents Lalchand Mahato claimed.

Mahato said Fernandes rang him up sometime back, saying he had met Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Venkaiah Naidu late on March 10 night.

"The outcome of the meeting was that there will be no immediate change in leadership," Mahato said.

It was also decided in the meeting that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Jharkhand should function collectively like the one at the Centre now, Mahato, the sole Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader among the rebels, said.

Mahato, whose national leader Sharad Yadav has authorised Fernandes to talk to the BJP leadership on his behalf, said the rebels and Chief Minister Babulal Marandi might be invited to Delhi to sort out differences.

The rebels would meet at 10:30 am (IST) to discuss Mahato's telephonic conversation with the Samata president. "Please wait for another couple of hours to know our decision," he said.

Bachcha Singh, who had been a "doubtful starter" in the rebels' team comprising Madhu Singh, Ramesh Singh Munda, Jaleshwar Mahato (all Samata) and Mahato (JD-U) had on March 10 parted ways with his "former" dissident colleagues, saying he had been asked by Fernandes to throw his weight behind Babulal Marandi.

The rebels had revolted on February 20, demanding removal of Marandi for alleged non- compliance with rules of executive business and Cabinet's approval in transfer posting of class one offices.

PTI