The leaders of some of the allies told Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee that the holding of such a rally would send out wrong signals, according to sources in the BJP-led coalition.

The sources said the Samata Party, Akali Dal and the Lok Shakti were among the allies who conveyed their displeasure to the Prime Minister. There is a feeling of unease among the allies over the way the Vajpayee Government has handled the issue of nuclear tests. They are peeved over the BJP's concerted efforts to make the nuclear tests look like a "party show."

While they agree with the need for the veil of secrecy behind the decision to go in for the tests, they feel the allies would have been happier if the Prime Minister hadcalled a brief Cabinet meeting before his press conference on May 11. "It is not that we are any less proud of the achievement of our scientists. But we came to know of the tests half an hour after the press was told about it," said one leader.

"According to my information even the Defence Minister was not told about it," he added.

Similarly, there is consternation among the allies over the Sangh Parivar's jingoistic moves to build a monument at the site of the blasts. "What nonsense is this shakti peeth? If we allow the VHP to go ahead with it, tomorrow the Congress will say it will build a monument to commemorate the 1974 Pokhran blasts. There won't be an end to this competition," said a leader of a BJP ally.

Some of the allies are also worried that the real issues concerning the people are being relegated to the background in the euphoria following the nuclear tests. They are particularly concerned over the rising inflation rate which has gone beyond six per cent. They feel that if immediateattention is not given to contain rising prices, it will have an adverse effect on none else than the BJP.