The confusion in the BJP was evident today with senior leader Pramod Mahajan reiterating that the AIADMK would continue to support the Government while BJP vice-president Jana Krishnamurthy said that the Centre had drawn up a contingency plan to run the Government in case Jayalalitha withdraws support.

Addressing newspersons here, Mahajan claimed that Jayalalitha was a ``valuable partner'' and would continue her support to the Government. He said, ``No Opposition party has the guts to form the Government at the Centre and under the present circumstances only the BJP can lead the country''.

The Congress, which had ruled the country for 50 years after Independence had been rejected by the people, he said.

Meanwhile in Chennai, Krishnamurthy said the party had evolved a contingency plan in the event of AIADMK withdrawing support, adding ``anyGovernment will have such contingency plans.''

Krishnamurthy said his party would not snap ties with the AIADMK on its own. The alliance may be called ``a marriage of convenience''. But his party would not say `talaq', he added.

He asserted that the BJP-led Government would not compromise on its stand on the use of Article 356 or on corruption to appease Jayalalitha.

Krishnamurthy admitted that some of Jayalalitha's statements could be construed as ``bitter criticism'' of Prime Minister A B Vajpayee or Home Minister L K Advani. He, however, said Jayalalitha has every right to review her party's support to the BJP-led Government as announced by her few days ago.

Krishnamurthy said regional parties such as the DMK had been forced to adopt a particular approach towards the Vajpayee Government as there was no alternative to it.

Referring to the Assembly elections due in November in some states, he said while the BJP was expected to better its performance in Rajasthan and Delhi, in Madhya Pradesh,it would wrest power from the Congress.

Answering a question, he said the Congress was waiting for the outcome of these elections to formulate its policy towards the coalition Government.

Krishnamurthy lambasted the Left parties for offering support to the Congress to form an alternative Government after describing that party as ``communal and corrupt''.

He dismissed as ``incorrect'', reports that the Rashtriya Swayaksevak Sangh (RSS) was dictating the policies to be pursued by the BJP. The BJP came from the RSS stock. But the RSS never interfered with the functioning of the Government, he explained.

Asked about the controversy over the transfer of Enforcement Director M K Bezbaruah and other senior officials, Krishnamurthy said the transfer of an official or a counsel would not affect the conduct of the cases dealt by them.