Rejecting the Congress view that the nuclear blasts this week might prompt the BJP to opt for early polls, Thakre told newsmen here that the party has no such intention. ``If the Congress floats such an opinion, I have nothing to comment,'' he said.

On the threat of sanctions following the nuclear tests, Thakre asserted that the country would not bow to the pressures of Western powers. ``A national will has emerged in the country on the recent nuclear blasts and the sanctions are a blessing in disguise for us,'' he said adding that the nation will now give up the tendency towards dependence.

Asked if the nuclear tests were carried out to pursue the party's swadeshi principle, the BJP president said that the government was implementing what it had promised in the national agenda. The nuclear blasts have proved the mightof Indian scientific community beyond any doubt.

On the differences between the coalition partners, he said that they have been sorted out after the meeting of the coordination committee.

``Everything went off peacefully and the mutual cooperation will continue in future.''

Thakre justified the attack on noted painter M F Husain by a group of Bajarang Dal activists in Mumbai recently on the ground that Husain had no right to infringe on the religious sentiments of others. ``In the name of freedom of expression, he (Husain) has no right to hurt the sentiments of followers of other religions,'' he said.

``Husain painted a Hindu goddess in a bad shape, which he should not have done in a country like India. It will be better if he stops such paintings in future.''

Asked about forging an alliance with the Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh, the BJP president was non-committal and merely said: ``Our friendship will grow further. The BJP's decided not to field candidates for three Assemblyconstituencies in the forthcoming byelections with a view to prevent a split in BJP and TDP vote,'' he said.

The BJP president, who arrived here yesterday to participate in the State Council meeting, said that the Congress was the principal enemy to BJP. ``We will support any political party that would help the BJP in defeating the Congress,'' he said.

The BJP president said that the Centre has no immediate plans to create a separate state for Telangana. ``Though the BJP is committed for smaller states, the national agenda allows for creation of only three new states,'' he said.

Thakre exhorted partymen to work for fulfilling the expectations of the people, particularly the poorer sections. ``We should not rest with achieving success in nuclear blasts alone. We have a daunting task ahead,'' he said.

``Attaining power is not our only objective. Till sometime ago, BJP was looked upon by other parties as untouchable. But many of them have now come closer to us and such a situation would help the BJP inthe long run,'' he observed.