This has narrowed down the shortfall to just three MPs to reach the magic figure of 272 as sole member of Rashtriya Janata Party Anand Mohan also declared his support for the motion. Buoyed by the development, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's political managers exuded confidence about winning over support of the three-member TMC as well to complete the final tally. However, TMC chief GK Moopanar's meeting with Sonia Gandhi late this evening proved to be a dampner.

Breaking its silence, the Congress party on Friday declared its intention of staking claim to form the Government under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi with the support of other parties in the event of the Vajpayee government losing the confidence vote.

Karunanidhi, Chauthala to back VajpayeeThe announcement was made by CWC member Arjun Singh who maintained that the coalition government would lose the confidence vote.

While the DMK's support was announced on the floor of the Lok Sabha by its parliamentary party leader Murasoli Maran, INLD chief Om Prakash Chauthala held a press conference to do so.

Speaking on the motion of confidence, Maran admitted that his party had to make a difficult choice in the overall interest of the party. "We support continuance of Atalji. We support Atalji rather than the mother of corruption," he said in apparent reference to Jayalalitha.

Maran made no bone in declaring that his party was disappointed with the Left and other friendly parties who did not take them into confidence while hobnobbing with their arch rival (AIADMK).

Announcing his "unconditional" support to the Government, Chauthala told newspersons that he was doing so as the opposition was unable to offer a viable alternative". Chauthala had withdrawn support to the coalition after theGovernment hiked urea prices sometime ago.

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah also announced the continuance of his party's support to the Government, further boosting the morale of the coalition. The party has three members in the Lok Sabha.

The five-member BSP, however, continued to keep its card close to its chest. Parliamentary party leader Mayawati reiterated on Friday that her party would take a stand only on the floor of the house before voting on Saturday. This is being interpreted as last minute bargaining ploy by Kanshi Ram with whom BJP functionaries are in touch.

MDMK leader Vaiko met TMC chief GK Moopanar twice on Friday to enlist support of his three-member team for the Government. The TMC which has tie- up with the DMK in Tamil Nadu did not give any formal commitment to Vaiko. But it is believed it would vote in favour of the confidence motion. Even if it did not vote in favour, the party's abstention can be taken for granted, according to BJP sources.

Much as the TMC leadersenjoy confidence of Sonia Gandhi, they have local compulsions in Tamil Nadu to avoid her company. They could not be seen to be aligning with the party which was hobnobbing with its foe -- AIADMK.

The Congress was on Friday forced to announce Sonia Gandhi's name as Prime Minister of an alternative set-up following criticism by smaller outfits like INLD and others that the opposition had yet to specify the new arrangement in case of fall of the Vajpayee government.

The Lok Sabha, meanwhile, debated the confidence motion for the second day on Friday with leaders like Somnath Chaterjee (CPM), Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP), among the opposition, attacking the Government for its failures on various fronts.

The house, at one stage, was plunged in chaos following an unsavoury remark made against Sonia Gandhi by Samata Party MP Prabhunath Singh. Challenging the remark (expunged by the Speaker subsequently), the Congress benches rushed to the well of the house menacingly, creating confusion and din. The house had tobe adjourned for an hour.

Members who spoke in support of the motion included Mamata Banerjee (Trinamool Congress) and Prabhunath Singh (Samata).