Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi on Monday handed over his resignation letter to Governor M Rama Jois, hours before he was to face a trial of strength.

Marandi submitted his papers to the governor shortly after a one-hour meeting of NDA legislators loyal to him, chaired by senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh.

Sources in the party told rediff.com that Union minister Karia Munda is emerging as the front runner to replace Marandi.

Marandi said he had resigned 'annoyed' by the activities of Speaker and leader of the opposition group of 42 legislators, Inder Singh Namdhari, who had convened a session of the assembly on Monday morning for a trial of strength.

Speaking to newspersons at Raj Bhavan after putting in his papers, Marandi said he was now feeling 'relaxed'. He asked legislators to 'forgive' him for 'mistakes' that he might have committed.

Marandi said it had not yet been decided who would take over from him as chief minister. 

Last week, dissidents in the coalition government elected Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari as their leader and also met Governor Rama Jois to stake claim to form an alternative government. They claimed Namdhari had the support of 42 legislators.

However, the governor refused to entertain their claim and instead told Marandi to prove his majority and also get the budget passed by the House by March 31.

But, in a bid to force the issue, Namdhari had convened the House on March 17 overriding the objections of the ruling coalition.

With inputs from PTI