As the numbers game defied solution, the opposition camp was beginning to feel the pressure of the BJP's demand that its claim be reconsidered by the President. As a result, the proposal for Jyoti Basu to head a Third Front government was revived.

Although both Harkishen Singh Surjeet and Basu again said ``no'', the spectre of a resurrection of the BJP Government prompted the CPM to go into a huddle over the demand, voiced by both the Samajwadi Party and Jayalalitha today.

In fact, Jayalalitha spearheaded the negotiations on this, meeting Sonia Gandhi, Basu himself and the President twice after which she announced, ``The only possible way out is a Third Front coalition with Congress supporting it from outside and Mr Jyoti Basu as Prime Minister''.

Privately admitting that the Jyoti Basu compromise could notbe ruled out in the changed scenario, the CPM leadership will meet tomorrow to discuss the implications of taking the plunge at the Centre.

The Congress stand on the Basu option is not clear. Officially, the party stuck to repeating its stated position that it should head an alternative government as the second largest party in the Lok Sabha. But Congress sources admitted that the proposition would be discussed tonight with all the concerned parties. The decision depends on the outcome of the negotiations. Congress sources said that the majority of Congress MPs with whom Sonia held a series of meetings through the day were against giving outside support to the Third Front. At the same time, most of the MPs did not want to face a mid-term poll, fearing that the manner in which Vajpayee was ousted had generated a sympathy wave which would benefit the BJP.

However, there are hurdles aplenty for any alternative coalition, be it one headed by the Congress or one led by Basu. For instance, how will the SP andthe BSP be part of the same coalition? Or the TMC and the AIADMK? Or Ram Vilas Paswan and Laloo Yadav, for that matter?

Congress MPs who met Sonia today gave vent to their anger against the ``coterie'', headed by Arjun Singh. Interestingly, the so-called coterie too is against the Basu formula.

Given the opposition from so many quarters, Sonia will not find it easy to push the Basu option. But it may be the only alternative for her. The indications the Congress has received from all the diverse groups in the opposition camp is that the only person under whom they can sink their differences is Basu.The Janata Dal hinted at this today when its president Sharad Yadav handed over a letter to the President offering to support ``any secular government''.

Congress sources conceded that the only way of breaking the BJP-led alliance was the formation of an alternative coalition embracing all those who want to be in government. Basu had better credentials to attract members from parties like the TDP, etc. thanSonia, the sources admitted.