NEW DELHI. Apr 3: Prime Minister HD Dave Gowda's coalition is refusing to buckle to demands to replace him to rescue the government from losing a confidence vote next week, reports AP.

Gowda won critical support from the 14 parties comprising his United Front coalition, which said they'd rather face elections than dump their leader, newspapers reported Thursday.

Congress withdrew support from the coalition Sunday, accusing the government of economic drift, breakdown of law and order and supporting the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.

Congress Party chief Sitaram Kesari has demanded Gowda's resignation.

Kesari initially said Congress must from the next government, but he later soft-

ened his demands, saying that his problem was with Gowda's leadership, not with the United Front.

Parliament will convene April 11 for a confidence vote in Gowda, who is in office barely 10 months. To survive, he need the support of Congress.

No party. including Congress, has enough seats for a majority in the 545-member lower house of Parliament. The United Front and the Congress need each other to keep out their common foe. the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Kesari came under increasing criticism in his own party for not consulting them before withdrawing support from the Front. Privately, many of them have been demanding that Kesari explain how he intends to win enough allies to form a government.

Congress lawmakers face

two problems: No other party is willing to support their bid for power; none of them wants to face elections If the government falls.

Capitalising on this fear, the Front has said it will ask President Shankar Dayal Sharma to call general elections if Gowda falls.

The expense of another election and Congress' recent record of declining electoral performances have prompted Congress leaders search for face-saving alternatives. Several have suggested a Joint committee to break the deadlock.

Industrial groups are lobbying for an end to the crisis that is threatening investment and growth. Still pending is the federal budget introduced February 28. calling for radical cuts In personal and corporate taxes.