These two names are expected to figure in the first list of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates for the coming Lok Sabha elections to be released on Tuesday.

The central election committee of the party began its deliberations here on Monday to review the political situation state-wise and scrutinise the list of candidates forwarded by the state units. The meeting was presided over by party president Kushabhau Thakre.

Prominent among those attending the two-day meeting are Prime Minister Vajpayee, home minister Advani, HRD minister Murali Manohar Joshi, industry minister Sikandar Bakht, vice president K L Sharma and all five general secretaries. The lone absentee of the 16-member committee was Rajmata Vijayraje Scindia, who is unwell.

Briefing newsmen, party spokesman M Venkaiah Naidu denied any infighting in the state units that compelled sitting MPs to withdraw from contest. He, however, said if any of the MPs were unwilling to contest it will be known only when state-wise discussions were held.

He said there was a brief reference to Samata Party president George Fernandes's statement at the meeting. They were trying to get in touch with Fernandes to ascertain what exactly he had said. On the issue of the entry of Sharad Yadav faction of Janata Dal into the Bharatiya Janata Party-headed National Democratic Alliance (NDA), BJP general secretary M Venkaiah Naidu said "everybody wants to strengthen NDA." Though the issue of Janata Dal entry into NDA did not figure at the meeting of the committee but the problem would be resolved soon, Naidu said responding to a question on NDA convener and Samata leader George Fernandes' reported statement that he would quit NDA if Janata Dal was denied admission into the alliance, Naidu said a brief mention of it was made at the meeting but it was felt that a decision should be taken on it after talking to Fernandes.

He refused to comment on entry of Karnataka chief minister J H Patel into NDA. "He is not yet part of NDA. Therefore no comment", he said.