Though the meeting's primary focus was to have been the November assembly elections in four states, it threatens to be overshadowed by the war of nerves between the AIADMK and BJP, which has put a question mark on the government's longevity.

A senior party functionary said that deliberations on the crisis precipitated by AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha were unavoidable. The National Executive is the BJP's highest decision-making body. Normally, such discussions would be held behind closed doors, but anxious members of Parliament are expected to raise the matter at the meeting itself.

The problem has become even more tricky with other allies openly expressing their resentment against Jayalalitha. The Trinamool Congress is now demanding that the AIADMKbe dropped from the coalition.

``How long can we take this harassment? Everyone in the party is asking this question,'' said a BJP leader. Likening the alliance to a marriage, he said that the party now had three options: getting some elders to effect a rapprochement or a divorce. He also said a ``remarriage'' was possible, obviously referring to the possibility of the BJP trying to get other parties on to its side.

Two resolutions - political and economic - are to be adopted at the meeting. The political resolution is likely to touch upon the current situation and give some indication of the strategy the BJP will adopt. The economic resolution would deal with the post-Pokhran situation, especially in the light of the sanctions imposed by several countries.

Priority is to be given to framing poll strategies for the four states where assembly elections are due in November (Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Mizoram). This is the first National Executive since the Vajpayee government came to power fivemonths ago. The BJP leadership had hoped that the meeting would enthuse the party and get its workers geared up, particularly in these four states.

The venue of the meeting was chosen with the assembly elections in Rajasthan in mind. Based on the results of this year's February general elections, the BJP expects to do well in Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. But it performed dismally in Rajasthan, where it has been in power for eight years. It was hoped that holding the National Executive in Jaipur would shore up the party's electoral chances in the state.

A public meeting is to be held in Jaipur on Saturday. It will be addressed by top leaders, including Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Kushabhau Thakre.

BJP general secretary M Venkaiah Naidu said today that the National Executive would also discuss a plan of action to highlight the achievements of the BJP coalition and also ways in which to counter the disinformation campaign of its political rivals.

The PM, Home Minister L K Advani and FinanceMinister Yashwant Sinha will be among the senior leaders present during the three-day session. In reply to a question, Naidu said that the meeting would go on even if there was a major crisis in the government. ``In that case, some leaders can rush back to Delhi,'' he said.