The Centre is studying the implications of the Supreme Court judgment on Bihar amidst speculation that Buta Singh's days as governor were numbered despite his defiant posture.
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has been asked to cut short his stay in Mumbai and return to the capital on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the Union Cabinet meeting at which the ramifications of the Supreme Court verdict will be discussed.
Buta Singh has given no indication of stepping down and has instead declared that he will preside over the Republic Day function in Patna.
However, informed sources described Singh's stand as untenable and his departure as inevitable.