The breakaway group is trying to pull in more members from the ruling group before Faleiro has time to react. ``Prakash Velip (who has split from the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party to join the Congress two months ago) is still undecided about joining us,'' Zuwarkar told journalists outside the Speaker Pratapsinh Rane's office where the breakaway group were holed up.

The breakaway group is expectedto elect Sardinha as its leader. Members of the BJP are however discussing the possibility of joining the new government.

Chief Minister Faleiro, who was desperately trying to hold his flock together at his Altinho residence, put on a brave front before journalists. ``All the MLAs are with me, there is no split,'' he insisted.

The first hint of the political crisis in Goa came on Thursday afternoon when deputy speaker Arecio D'Souza resigned from his post. He has now cast his lot with the breakaway group.

BJP nod for Govt
New Delhi: Following the collapse of the Congress government the BJP TOP brass on Friday evening gave the go-ahead to its state unit to support an alternative government.

The BJP, which has 10 MLAs contacted BJP general secretary M Venkaiah Naidu. The top leaders reportedly told him to direct the state unit to support an alternative government .