The 12-member PAC is sharply divided over Patel's proposal that the party should join forces with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. Though the anti-Patel faction looks to have an edge in terms of support within the PAC, a split looks unavoidable.

The BJP too was grappling with the bombshell dropped by Patel. The central leadership continued to adopt a wait and watch attitude while the Karnataka unit of the BJP dug in its heels, firmly opposing any tie-up with the JD. There was some comfort for the party though with veteran Congressman from the State, M Rajasekhara Murthy formally joining the BJP today.

The first available indication of matters coming to the head in the JD came from senior leader S Jaipal Reddy who demanded disciplinary action against Patel for violatingthe resolution of the Karnataka JD executive. ``Patel through his ideologically unprincipled and politically unstable position has sullied the secular credentials of the JD,'' he told reporters.

``He has the freedom to advocate any position. But he must resign as Chief Minister before doing so. He has no business to take different positions on different dates. In the last nine years the JD has suffered several splits and desertions. But Patel has attacked its soul,'' he remarked.

On the other hand, Patel clarified that he had proposed that the JD could join the NDA, subject to approval from the party. ``Moreover, our objective is to join hands with the Lok Shakti and the Samata Party. I did not bring the BJP into the picture,'' he said.

He said that when he spoke to Lok Shakti chief Ramakrishna Hegde and Samata Party president George Fernandes, it was with the express approval of the State JD executive.

Asked if seat adjustments would not be a problem if the JD were to have even an indirect alliancewith the BJP through the Lok Shakti-Samata, Patel replied that it was for Fernandes and Hegde to sort out the matter with the BJP.

The Karnataka Chief Minister took the line that the NDA was not the creation of only the BJP. ``In fact it is a creation of George Fernandes. In the interest of democracy we should not allow either the BJP or the Congress to monopolise the politics of the country,'' he said.

That the Patel camp is in no mood to take it lying down was evident from Paswan's statement that ``we are firm in our stand.'' He said ``there is no need for any ideological debate. Didn't the JD contest two Assembly by-elections in Bihar with the Samata Party's support?''

The line-up in the PAC is clear; Patel, Ram Vilas Paswan and I K Gujral on one side and the rest including H D Deve Gowda, Surendra Mohan, S R Bommai, Madhu Dandavate and Jaipal Reddy on the other. Significantly, party chief Sharad Yadav who has to depend on the Samata Party in Bihar to harbour hopes of making it to the Lok Sabha isalso said to be veering towards the Patel line. Importantly, Fernandes today called on Yadav after his talks with Patel and Paswan.