Sunday, May 15 2005 18:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) today (May 15, 2005) said it would soon resolve the problem in the party's Jharkhand unit following party leader Babulal Marandi's threat to quit over the appointment of Yadunath Pandey as the State party president.

"It (Jharkhand crisis) will soon blow over," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javdekar told reporters in New Delhi after a two-day party workshop on media.

He said national office bearers of the party would meet on May 23 but declined to comment whether the Jharkhand issue would be discussed at the meeting.

"The agenda has not been decided yet. We will disclose it to you when it is decided," Javdekar said.

Marandi had yesterday (May 14, 2005) threatened to quit the party over the appointment of Pandey as its Jharkhand unit president but the party high command ruled out any reconsideration on the move.

"There is going to be no change," BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had told reporters yesterday responding to Marandi's objection to Pandey's appointment to the post.

Marandi had said, "In the interest of the party, the national leadership should immediately reconsider the decision (in appointing Pandey). I will go to any extent if the party ignored my demand".

On whether it meant quitting the party, he said, "When I say going to any extent, means any extent. Every option is open to me. There is a meeting of district presidents on May 16 and 17 in Ranchi. I will take a final decision after that."