While there was no official reaction, sources within the party today questioned the need for such a body. They appeared to suspect that the forum would be used by members of other alliance partners to corner the AIADMK on the recent crisis faced by the Government.

It has also not taken kindly to the unilateral announcement fixing the date for the coordination committee meeting as is evident in the fact that the Government has been forced to change it.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Jaswant Singh, who has been functioning as ad hoc convenor of the committee, admitted today that he was setting a fresh date as the schedule announced by him last night did not seem to suit some of the partners. He said he would finalise the new date tomorrow.

He scotched speculation that AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalitha would not attendthe forthcoming meeting. ``I spoke to her on phone today and she has assured me that she will be present,'' Singh told The Indian Express.

Meanwhile in Calcutta, Mamata Banerjee said she was the first to suggest the formation of such a committee comprising the BJP and its allies. Reiterating her party's support to the Vajpayee government ``in the greater interest of the nation'', the Trinamool Congress leader said her party had never demanded anything from the government, neither did it try to bargain for anything.