When she met the ailing Surjeet at AIIMS in mid-February, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda was also present. The three discussed politics in the context of imposition of President's rule in Bihar.

When contacted, Surjeet and Deve Gowda confirmed that the meeting did take place. But they declined to say what transpired. Interestingly, Sonia kept her contact with Surjeet after he was discharged from AIIMS. Asked about this, he said: ``The days of the government are numbered. Come to me after March 30.''

Sources say that things will be clearer only after Subramaniam Swamy's tea-party. Sonia Gandhi is awaiting the outcome of BJP's coordination committee meeting slated for tomorrow before giving an indication to attend the party. Swamy who calledon Sonia five days ago, is said to have told her that Jayalalitha is angry with the BJP and keen to work in close cooperation with the Congress.

Meanwhile, there are indications that the Vajpayee government is going all out to woo Jayalalitha and could even go to the extent of setting up a JPC to look into the Bhagwat sacking.

But if Jaya does not join the team of topplers, Surjeet has a second plan, sources say. And this is based on the assumption that other BJP allies will split. Incidentally, when voting took place on the Bihar issue, six Congress MPs did not participate. Five MPs of the BSP, Ram Vilas Paswan (JD) and 2 MPs of the North East voted for the BJP. Surjeet hopes that they will vote for the Congress when it comes to a no-confidence motion.

As for the BJP's allies, those being seen as vulnerable by Surjeet are the Samata Party and the Biju Janata Dal where five rebel MPs, led by Tathagat Satpathy, can break away. There is a possibility that Akali Dal will split with three MPs led by PremSingh Chandumajra.

Incidentally, Sonia has not involved anybody from her party in this game. It is for Surjeet, Deve Gowda, Swamy and RLM leader Amar Singh and a few others in the Third Front to manage the numbers. Amar Singh met Surjeet yesterday and is reported to have said that the Congress or the Left should introduce the no-confidence motion. Kamal Nath, a member of the core group set up to take on the government, said: ``The Vajpayee government is in the departure lounge with its boarding card ready.''