He requested Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to delay his swearing-in till the Delhi elections are over. Sahib Singh today was allowed to hold a press conference where he released his `letter of sacrifice' to the press. ``Elections are due next month. I would not be able to do anything for it if I were to assume office of minister. For the duration of the elections, I want to devote my full time to the elections in Delhi,'' his letter to Vajpayee said.

He met the PM at around 3.30 pm today, with a letter requesting him to postpone his swearing-in till the elections are over. ``He hugged me and there were tears in his eyes,'' Sahib Singh told a press conferencetoday.

Playing every bit a martyr and referring to the episode as a sacrifice for the party's sake, Verma said: ``I will take oath after ensuring that Sushma Swaraj who is being projected by the party as Chief Minister also takes oath on November 30. At present, our only objective is to ensure a magnificent victory for the BJP,'' Verma said.

The two irate camps, the allies and Sahib Singh's supporters, are expected to be pacified by this move.

The allies, especially AIADMK chief Jayalalitha and Akali Dal leader and Union Food Minister Surjit Singh Baranala had earlier expressed their objections against inducting Verma alone in a Cabinet expansion.

On the other hand, Verma's supporters have been agitated over his unceremonious removal and threatened not to vote for the party. ``I will convince them. Every one of my supporters will work for the party to win the elections,'' Verma promised. By going along with the party line, Verma expects to raise his future stakes in the party.

Refuting the chargesthat this was a ``pre-election drama'', Verma said that if he were to join the Union Cabinet tomorrow he would not be able to do anything for the party in the Assembly elections.

``This is my resolve to strengthen the party as a swayam sevak of the Sangh. Till the goal, the traveller cannot relax,'' Sahib Singh said.