The more tricky constitutional problem arose less than a year later, when Singh lost a vote of confidence after the BJP withdrew support in the wake of L.K. Advani's arrest. Chandra Shekhar, heading a 54-member JD splinter group, with the Congress supporting him from outside, staked his claim. Venkataraman, say Rashtrapati Bhawan sources, consulted legal luminaries and also sought details regarding conventions in other countries in a similar situation. In the end, he still did not go as per the claim of Chandra Shekhar, endorsed by Rajiv Gandhi, for an unconditional nod. He once again approached parties in the order of strength in Parliament, beginning with the Congress. Chandra Shekhar was invited only after all parties preceding his in strength expressed inability to form the government. The condition was again that he would prove his majority within a month. Once he did that, of course, the government was as legitimate as any with an absolute majority.