Worried over the troubled relations with AIADMK and the realignment of opposition parties, BJP leaders have begun hectic damage-control measures. Sources in the PMO said Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was in constant touch with Jayalalitha today.

Although the Government is hoping that the AIADMK leader would offer reconciliation by deputing someone to take her place at the meeting, there was no sign of this tonight. Former Union Minister S Muthaiah, who is leader of the AIADMK in the Lok Sabha, arrived here today but said he was not aware if anyone else would attend for her.

Curiously, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee and LokShakti leader Ramakrishna Hegde would also not be present at the meeting. BJP leaders sought to play this down, saying that Banerjee is busy with counting of votes in West Bengal and Hegde has prior commitments. But neither is known to have deputed anyone else to attend the meeting in their place.

Jayalalitha's cancellation comes amid reports that angered over the BJP's reluctance to dismiss the Tamil Nadu Government, she was exploring other options, including recall of her Ministers from the Vajpayee Government.

Sources said that after tomorrow's meeting, the Convenor of the Coordination Committee, Jaswant Singh, would inform her of the deliberations. It was also hinted that Singh, who has succeeded in pacifying Jayalalitha on previous occasions, might go to Chennai himself. The PM might also invite her to come to Delhi for a one-to-one meeting later.