BJP vice-president K L Sharma told a news agency that the Government will ask Speaker G M C Balayogi to begin the debate and ``conduct the voting at the earliest.'' The President's direction came at the end of a day of dramatic developments which began with the withdrawal of support by Jayalalitha. While the Opposition camp heaved a huge sigh of relief that the Government had been put on the defensive, the BJP appeared stunned by what they saw as ``an unexpected development''.

``We will honour the word of the President. But, really speaking, there is no need for it (the vote),'' BJP president Kushabhau Thakre said.

A war council, consisting of BJP Cabinet ministers, was in progress at Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's residence till late at night but the Government seemed to have run out ofmanoeuvring space. A BJP source admitted that the situation had become ``difficult.''

For the Opposition, too, things aren't falling into place so smoothly. With Jayalalitha's pull-out today, phase one of the operation -- to vote out the Government -- was in full swing today. But the main players continued to be cautious about phase two -- the formation of an alternative government -- for fear that their differences would jeopardise the first part. All eyes are on the Jayalalitha-Sonia meeting scheduled for 5 pm tomorrow.

Till the Rashtrapati Bhawan announcement came late in the evening, the BJP was still hoping to wriggle out of the present crisis by forcing the Opposition to move a no-confidence vote. The feeling was that this would help consolidate the shaky alliance and simultaneously, prompt some of the anti-Congress parties to come to the Government's rescue.

A confidence vote, on the other hand, could send vulnerable partners from the BJP-led coalition running from a sinking ship. The signs werealready there with disgruntled MPs of the BJD and Samata Party sending out signals in the face of relentless pressure from intermediaries on behalf of the Opposition.

Meanwhile, the Government is pinning its hopes on the DMK, which has been watching the AIADMK's entry into the Opposition camp with consternation, and strategic absenteeism from anti-Congress regional parties like the Samajwadi Party, the HLD and the BSP. If the numbers do not add up, Vajpayee may choose to resign before the vote like he did when his 13-day Government failed to muster the required strength in 1996. BJP sources maintained, however, that the Government would go through the debate to cash in on the sympathy factor and Vajpayee's oratorial skills.

Throughout the day, there were hectic meetings in which the Opposition parties finalised their strategy for the final assault. In the evening, a delegation of leaders from the Congress, Left Front and Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha met the President to press for a confidence vote.

``TheVajpayee Government has lost its moral, constitutional and administrative right to govern. No time and opportunity should be given for horse-trading now,'' declared Leader of the Opposition Sharad Pawar as the delegation came out of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

However, RJD chief Laloo Yadav gave enough indication that talks to cobble together a non-BJP government had begun. ``We will form the government collectively soon after the ouster of the Vajpayee Government. How long will we carry the load of such a communal government?'' he declared.

His optimism was belied by the discordant voices from other partners of the non-BJP camp. ``We will not support a Congress-led Government. We want a government led by the Third Front,'' said HLD leader Om Prakash Chautala.

Day's developments

Jaya strikes: AIADMK chief Jayalalitha meets President at 11 am, hands over letter withdrawing support to the Government.

Meets Surjeet: Jaya calls on CPI (M) general secretary H K S Surjeet at 5 pm. n Oppnmeets President: ``We asked the President to direct the PM to seek a vote of confidence,'' says Sharad Pawar, along with other Opposition leaders, after meeting President at 5.30 pm.

Allies stick together: Leaders of BJP's allies meet at the PM's residence at 5.30 pm, express solidarity and the confidence to win trial of strength in Lok Sabha.

President settles it: President asks PM to seek a vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha.