Samata Party chief George Fernandes and Union Railway Minister Nitish Kumar were in Nalanda today, while other party leaders were in touch with dissidents like Shakuni Chaudhury and Abdul Gafoor.

Samata Party leaders, however, failed to pacify Kalpanath Rai, who `swore' to vote against the Vajpayee Government in Parliament and demanded the Prime Minister's resignation on moral grounds.

``He claims to have upheld moral values all through his political life. Why doesn't he then resign when his Government has lost its majority following withdrawal of support by the AIADMK'', Rai said. Rai added, ``They (his party leaders in Government) have been using resources at their command to woo my colleagues,'' andasserted that he would ``oppose the Vajpayee Government tooth and nail, come what may''.

Samata Party dissidents, however, were hopeful of mustering the support of four members of Parliament, needed to effect a split in the 12-member Samata Parliamentary Party.

Chaudhury, Prabhunath Singh and Sushil Kumar Singh, besides Rai, have been named as those set to leave the party.

Party general secretary Jaya Jaitley, however, denied reports of an impending split. ``There are long-standing demands of some Samata MPs which have not been fulfilled due to some reason beyond our control. But that does not mean they will leave the party'' she said.

Naveen Patnaik's wooing tactics however, seem to have had little effect on Biju Janata Dal (BJD) members of Parliament. Patnaik called on his party colleague Tathagat Satpathy, ostensibly to inquire about his health.

The nine-member party is reported to be vertically divided, with four MPs supporting Patnaik and five opposed to him. BJD dissidents claim that one ofPatnaik's supporters is a fence-sitter.

Patnaik, however, appeared unruffled. ``There is no threat to the Government. It is in fine health and my party is in even better health'' he claimed. But a BJD dissident leader claimed even Patnaik has been keeping his options open in case the BJP-led Government falls. Although the dissidents are hesitant to align with the Congress a party they opposed when the BJD was formed last year they may be left with little choice if a majority of MPs decides to either participate in the Congress-led Government or support it from outside.

The dissidents appear to be angry with the BJP for having ignored them despite being the third largest ally after the AIADMK and Samata Party. ``We were never taken into confidence by the BJP before any policy decision was arrived at. The prime minister should have called us for dinner at least once. We never demanded a Cabinet berth or any other favour, but did not get the respect due to us'' said a BJD MP.