Jaya to meet Vajpayee today

NEW DELHI, Oct 7(PTI) — In a surprise development, AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha has convened a meeting of the constituents of the BJP-led coalition minus the BJP on Friday even as Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee called a meeting of the coordination committee of the BJP and its allies the same day.

Ms Jayalalitha, who arrived here tonight, said she would be meeting the allies but did not elaborate on the agenda for the exercise from which the BJP has been kept out. She will be hosting a tea for the allies.

AIADMK sources said Ms Jayalalitha, who has been having a strained relationship with the BJP, may discuss with the allies on how the BJP should have better coordination with the constituents and not take them for granted.

Shortly after her arrival, Defence Minister George Fernandes met her.

Ruling party sources said the coordination committee would take place on Friday, a day before the likely expansion of the Union Council of Ministers. The coordination committee would be meeting after a gap of more than three months.

Ms Jayalalitha said during her meeting with the Prime Minister she would be discussing the Cabinet expansion. She would also meet Home Minister L.K. Advani and President K.R. Narayanan.

Asked to comment on the Udham Singh Nagar issue, she expressed the hope that the government would take a decision which was in tune with aspirations of the Akali Dal and that the three-member committee constituted today would do justice to the Dal.

Meanwhile, as lobbying for ministerial berths among various constituents intensified the MDMK said it would join the ministry.

Party MP Senjee Ramachandran, a ministerial probable, said, "We will join the government, but a statement will be issued by general secretary Vaiko".

However, the Trinamool Congress made it clear it would not join the government at present.