Friday, January 20 2006 14:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Apparently unsure of numbers in the next week's trial of strength, Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh today (Jan 20,2006)spoke of an 'option to exit' before the Congress- Janata Dal (JD) Secular (S) ministry faces the floor test in the Assembly on January 27.

In the same vein, he also spoke of a 'miracle' that may help him win the confidence vote.

"I have an option to exit," said Singh, a day after Governor T N Chaturvedi asked him to prove his strength in the assembly on or before January 27, following the withdrawal of support to his Government by JDS rebels led by H D Kumaraswamy, son of JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda.

Singh, whose Government has been brought to the precipice by the sudden torrent of political events set off by the actions of the Kumaraswamy group, told reporters that he had not consulted the party high command on the 'option to exit'Emphasising that he cannot take individual decisions, he said, "I will leave the decision to the party high command".

However, the beleaguered Chief Minister expressed optimism about winning the confidence vote, saying, 'a miracle can happen'.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Margaret Alva had a one-hour long meeting with Singh at his official residence, 'Krishna', this morning before which the Chief Minister, official sources said, also had a telephonic talk with A K Antony, in charge of party affairs in Karnataka.

The Congress seemed to banking upon Gowda, as Alva told reporters, 'everything now rests on JDS President H D Deve Gowda'.