For sometime now, the Congress leadership has been divided on the issue of replacing the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government by one of its own, with a majority of the CWC members in favour of toppling the rightist alliance at the Centre. Strong advocates of caution are largely limited to party president Sonia Gandhi and CWC member Arjun Singh.

For the first time today, the Congress indicated it was not averse to forming a government but with the necessary public noises of caution. Arjun Singh said: ``Suggestions that an alternative government be formed at the Centre have been noted. The Congress has already said it will provide constructive opposition in matters of national interest. We are aware, however, of the fastdeteriorating situation in the country politically, economically and otherwise.''

``Consolidation of all secular forces remains an important issue for us. We will keep a close and constant watch on the developing situation. The Congress cannot take a decision on a hypothetical situation. But in case the government collapses under its own weight, the Congress will definitely discharge its responsibility.''

The four-hour CWC meeting, easily the most important so far under Sonia's chairmanship, reflected the known division of opinion in its ranks. Only Singh felt the party should not take the public initiative to form the next government as it would take away the edge the party currently enjoys when compared to other anti-BJP forces.

Singh is understood to have told the CWC that it would be preferable to wait for parties like the Left, Samajwadi Party, RJD, Janata Dal and even outfits like the TDP, AIADMK and the Trinamool Congress to consolidate their support to a Congress-led government before the partyswings into action.

The Congress will have to break the current BJP-led alliance if it has any hopes of forming a government in the first place and then stay in office for some length of time. This is an exercise full of imponderables, Singh is said to have advised the CWC.

By not saying no to forming a government, the Congress must be seen as having boosted the efforts of its allies in this direction. People like Laloo Prasad Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav have been constantly asking the Congress leaders to take the lead in forming the next government and the CWC's deliberations today should keep them happy.

Laloo Yadav, who came to Delhi today, came out in support of former prime minister Chandra Shekhar's statement yesterday urging the Congress to initiate measures to form an alternative government at the Centre. ``I have decided to translate Chandra Shekhar's dream of an alternative coalition at the Centre into a reality,'' Laloo said on his arrival here.