Bhandari had a 20-minute meeting with President K R Narayanan this afternoon and later a lengthy meeting with Union Home Minister L K Advani.

While the talks with Narayanan were described by Rashtrapati Bhavan as a courtesy call, Bhandari is learnt to have clarified his position on the controversy to Advani.

The State Government has threatened to lodge a complaint against the Governor with the President.

The Governor is also believed to have discussed the situation in Bihar which he has repeatedly described as ``grim''. His written report, submitted to the Centre a couple of weeks ago, as well the report of the Central team which went to Patna confirm this assessment.

However, Home Ministry sources admitted that it would not be so easy to dismiss the Bihar Government in view of thepressure from AIADMK chief Jayalalitha to do the same with the Tamil Nadu Government.

The discussions between Advani and Bhandari focussed on this. Officials said that despite the gravity of the situation in the state, nothing would happen in a hurry, certainly not till the budget session ends in August.