``It was never done in the past at the JDLP. The proper place to prove the majority is the floor of the Assembly'', he said. He said if some legislators opt for such a trial of strength, it can be taken up on October 29 the day the assembly session begins its sitting here.

But Deve Gowda differed. Reacting to Patel's comments, he said it was the prerogative of the JDLP to decide the leadership issue. The power to decide the leadership wrests with the legislature party, he said.

But Patel said there was no compulsion for him as of now to seek trust vote at the JDLP. Nor was he worried about his continuance nor that of his ministry, but warned rebels that if the crisis heightened it would spell doom for the party, the image of which had already been damaged by recent events.

The ChiefMinister said former prime minister Deve Gowda has also said the issue of leadership change was not before anyone and his ministerial colleagues have stood by him. Moreover, none of the fifty-odd legislators who have signed the memorandum have demanded a change of leadership, he said.

He said the crisis will be sorted out before the legislature session. The infighting in the party has been taken seriously by the people earlier and a fitting lesson has been taught. If we quarrel again it will be repeat of history. But the situation will not go that far. It will be sorted before the legislature session, he said.

Patel said Deve Gowda did enquire about his health and had said Patel should have taken rest at the hospital for some more time. But he had assured that everything was all right and that Patel should not worry about anything but should take rest.

Patel also said he will defend the power tariff issue and the fertiliser issue at the JDLP meeting, a day before the legislature session. He said he wasready for a debate on these issues at the party forum.

Regarding the role played by his secretary and other senior officials whom the rebels were demanding a change, Patel said he knew best about which official should be posted where.

In the meanwhile senior ministers met at the residence of Agriculture Minister C Byre Gowda to express solidarity with Patel. Those who were present at the meeting include P G R Scindia, M P Prakash, V Somanna, A B Patil, C M Udasi, S S Patil, Leeladevi R Prasad, B N Bacche Gowda, K N Nage Gowda, Umesh Katti, Basavaraj Patil Attur, H Shivappa, Jayaprakash Hegde and Byre Gowda.

Byre Gowda said he had a discussion with Deve Gowda over the phone. It was clear that the leadership issue was not on the agenda as no one was keen on it, he said. He said Rural Development Minister M P Prakash and Law Minister M C Nanaiah will be meeting Deve Gowda later.

Deve Gowda had said on Sunday that he will be meeting his supporters on Wednesday as most of them had gone away from Bangalorein view of the Diwali festival. On Tuesday he said he had to react to Patel's version on JDLP and said that the party forum was the place to decide the leadership issue.