Though Murasoli Maran is said to have told CPM general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet yesterday that the DMK is very much with the Third Front, he sought some time to take a final decision on whether the party's six MPs will oppose the BJP or abstain if and when voting takes place.

The BJP's fate will be virtually sealed once the DMK decides to vote against it. But its abstaining could make the difference.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Kumaramangalam's declaration today that the BJP-led government has no plans to seek a vote of confidence when Parliament reconvenes on April 15 is based on the assumption that the DMK may not vote against it.

``We are confident of having a majority and we are not going to move any confidence motion when the LokSabha resumes its sitting on April 15,'' he told reporters here after inaugurating a seminar on management in power sector.

Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda is contemplating hosting a dinner of all like-minded parties on April 13 or 14 once the uncertainty over the strategy is finalised. Apart from Congress leaders, the Third Front and the AIADMK leaders are expected to attend. Surjeet is working overtime in this regard. Though Surjeet denied today that he met President K R Narayanan recently, he said: ``What is there if I meet him?''

It now transpires that Congress leaders, including former Finance Minister Manmohan Singh, have strongly criticised the Union Budget at the meetings of the Standing Committee on Finance which are taking place now. They have said the Budget has done more harm to the economy. However, the Opposition's entire strategy depends on the DMK's attitude, at least in round one.