The cabinet is meeting here on Wednesday where the issue would be taken up. "If necessary, we will approach the President," the minister said.

Justifying this stand, he said, "A caretaker Government for such a long time which cannot take any policy or investment decisions is also not in the country's interest."

The minister said his party strongly favoured an early election. "We are in favour of early polls so that the new Government can soon take the charge and carry on the functions as required," he said. There is a little point in holding the charge without any real powers, he said.

Having a dig at the system, Kumaramangalam said a note bythe cabinet secretary has enjoined upon the Government to run it as a "caretaker" one until the next election. The Government has been asked not to take any major policy decisions. Among the list of do's and don'ts include no decision on major investments, policy matter, tenders or anything out of the ordineary function, he said. "We also do not want to take any blame for inaction during the period," he added.

On the posibility of their demand being met, Kumaramangalam said there is no written rule on the Government's powers under such circumstances, but there were precedents.

Talking on BJP's alliance partners for the next elections, he said most likely they will go to the polls with the same partners. When asked if the BJP wanted to cash in on the people's sympathy by having the early election, he said: "People have realised that by deception and immoral methods the Government has been brought down. That is not what people want. This is sheer illusion on the part of the Congress that people will forgetthis."

Castigating Jayalalitha for her action, he said the AIADMK leader was on record saying Vajpayee was the only leader who can be the prime minister. Her slogan was: "We will provide the stability, give us the strength". But she was the only who did everything to destabilise the Government.

When asked wether if the coalition system is right for the country, Kumarmangalam said there is nothing wrong in the coalition but it was the approach, the way in which the Congress went about destabilising the Government.