Without stressing on the controversial core issues of the BJP which could invite a backlash from their partners in government, the duo made a concerted effort to reassure restless workers that the compulsions of coalition politics did not mean that they had forgotten the party or the principles which make it different from others. ``Let me assure you, we remember all our promises and we will meet the challenges ahead successfully with your support,'' Vajpayee asserted in his concluding speech to the three-day convention which saw Kushabhau Thakre take over the reins of the party.

He was echoing sentiments expressed earlier in the morning by Advani who told the delegates, ``this party has the capacityto adapt its strategy to the demands of the situation. Never see this as opportunism. We have not forgotten a single issue.''

This reaffirmation to the BJP's ideology by Vajpayee and Advani was sparked off by critical comments from many of the state-level leaders and delegates attending the convention. They were unhappy on several counts - the inaccessibility of BJP ministers to party delegations, the perceived weakeness of the Government in bowing to pressures from the allies particularly AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha and the growing impression that the BJP had abandoned its agenda in its lust for power.

The comments obviously stung for Advani and Vajpayee did something today that they have never done since the BJP was founded 18 years ago. They both spoke on the same day. Advani had addressed the opening session and Vajpayee was to make the closing remarks.

BJP sources revealed that Advani was forced to make an intervention this morning in contravention of this iron-clad tradition after members of theNational Executive lambasted the political resolution which was to be adopted by the National Council.

The sources said Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj were particularly harsh on the draft placed before the Executive on Saturday for approval. They felt that the resolution was wishy-washy and did not send out a clear message from the BJP.The dominant feeling of the Executive was that the resolution should have had three parts: One to explain the role of the party now that the BJP is in government, two to spell out the relationship between the party and the Government, and three to clarify the role of the BJP in a coalition.Instead, the resolution, in an attempt to strike a balance between the party and the ruling coalition, ended up sounding like the National Agenda for Governance.

Both Vajpayee and Advani tried to correct this by reiterating their commitment to BJP ideology. At the same time, both attempted to explain thedifficulties of running a coalition which may at times give the impression that they are compromising on basic principles. Advani referred to previous instances when the party joined hands with other political groups in the interest of a larger national cause.

He cited the decision to join the JP Movement in the early seventies to fight for democracy and the alliance with the Akali Dal for communal harmony in Punjab.

``Just because we are allies does not mean we agree with everything they believe in. But a coalition has a dharma and even if the others do not follow it, the BJP will. And I appeal to all our workers and MPs to help us in this. At the same time, we will never compromise on our basic ideology and principles,'' he stated.

Vajpayee too laid considerable stress on the role of the party in helping his Government to run well. ``People have high hopes of us. We have to fulfill these hopes. The party has an important role to play in this. It has to be the link between the Government and thepeople.''

He took a swipe at the press by blaming it for adding ``mirch-masala'' to each and every development.