NEW DELHI, Oct 9: India's Hindu nationalists have stepped up efforts to form a new government within five days after leading their alliance to an overall majority in elections, officials said today . reports AFP.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajapyee's BJP party was trying to persuade all its numerous allies to Join a coalition government by Thursday to give it a measure of stability.

BJP officials said Vajpayee. 72. was expected to take the oath of office Thursday at the head of a multi-party government that would herald his third tenure as prime minister.

"We have picked Thursday for swearing-in, and we hope there will be no obstacles." a senior party leader said.

The proposed government would have representatives from almost all its allies, but there appeared to be some uncertainty over the participation of its largest partner, the regional TDP party.

TDP supremo N. Chan-drababu Naidu, who also led his party to a spectacular comeback In parallel local elections in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, reportedly prefers to prop up Vajpayee from the outside

However, he wanted former

central bank governor and a passionate advocate of free market. C. Rangarajan, to become finance minister, party sources said.

BJP officials admitted that other allies -- knowing the Hindu nationalists' dependence on them -- were bargaining hard for plum cabinet posts.

Vajpayee first became prime minister in May 1996, but his government lasted only 13 days.

His second tenure at the head of a multi-party coalition ended after 13 months in April when he lost his majority in the 545-member parliament by one vote

Vajpayee s 1998-99 coalition was propped up by several parties. but not all of them joined the government -- turning it into a wobbly and squabbling alliance.

BJP officials said they were keen to avoid earlier mistakes.

"Coalitions are here to stay " said a party leader. Narendra Modi. "We think we have learnt from experience and can govern better. "

The Hindu nationalist-led coalition is to formally elect Vajpayee as leader of its parliamentary wing Sunday and call upon the president a day later to stake its claim to power.

Vajpayee has to then prove his majority in parliament --which aides say would pose no hurdles.

Leaders of the bruised Congress party of Italian-born Sonia Gandhi were expected to meet, also Sunday, to debate its worst electoral rout.

The mood in the Congress --the main opposition party --was "very bitter." a party strategist said, though a revolt against Gandhi was unlikely.

"Many think Sonia Gandhi has failed to deliver, but the problem is there is no one else to lead the party, the strategist said. 'But people considered close to her may face the wrath."

The Congress won just 112 seats -- far below its earlier worst showing of 141 seats in 1998.

It was the Congress's first parliamentary elections under the leadership of Sonia, the widow of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi ,who look to politics only last year She was also elected to parliament for the first time.

The dominant BJP has 182 MPs in the ruling coalition --which is the same number it had In the earlier house. The alliance won 296 seats, with the BJP's main ally, the TDP. bagging 29 seats