On her part Jayalalitha today ducked the issue of substantiating the bribery charge in transfer of Enforcement Director M K Bezbaruah, pleading non-receipt of a letter on the subject from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), but sought to throw the ball back into the Prime Minister's court by endorsing an Opposition demand for a CBI probe into the matter.

The numbers game is on again; BJP managers, armed with a detailed partywise breakup of Lok Sabha MPs, are busy figuring out how to stay on in power if the AIADMK withdraws the support of its 18 MPs and the government hasto face a test of majority.

``We should not find it difficult to make up the AIADMK shortfall,'' a BJP troubleshooter said, hinting that abstentions and absenteeism could be ``managed''.

(The government has to get a majority only among those present and voting.) The party's confidence stems from the TINA factor and positive indications from the PMK, MDMK, TRC and DMK.

Sources said that AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha is now expected to make her next move only on August 27. The reason: the number nine is supposed to be auspicious for her; and on the advice of her astrologers she reportedly takes important decisions only when the date adds up to nine (9, 18 and 27).

Reports suggested that no decision on withdrawal of support or recalling AIADMK ministers could be reached at the meeting Jayalalitha held with her party leaders in Chennai today, which happens to be the 18th.

The PMO's reply yesterday to Jayalalitha's Sunday letter has apparently infuriated the AIADMK supremo, not only because it virtuallychallenged her to prove her allegations but because it was written by Brijesh Mishra, Principal Secretary to the PM and not Vajpayee himself. She is apparently angry that she has been ``equated'' with Mishra.

Since the BJP is acutely aware of Jayalalitha's mind, the slight seems to be deliberate. Refuting Jayalalitha's charge today that she had not received the PMO letter, PMO officials said that it had been faxed to her yeterday itself. They also dismissed her allegation that her letter had been leaked to the press by the PMO.

The government faced considerable embarassment today when the Supreme Court stayed the transfer of Enforcement Director M K Bezbaruah. Asked about this, the PM's former political advisor Pramod Mahajan refused to comment on the grounds that the matter was in court.

In Guwahati, Prime Minister Vajpayee was evasive when asked to comment on Jayalalitha's charge that Bezbaruah was removed due to pressure exerted on the PMO by a particular newspaper group. He replied that he could notcomment on Bezbaruah and that the court was seized of the matter.