Bhuiyan, also the LGRD minister of the coalition government, made the comment in reply to queries from newsmen on the latest developments in the ruling alliance following a meeting between the JP Chairman HM Ershad and BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman Thursday night.

Bhuiyan spoke about his party's stand while briefing newsmen on Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's exchange of opinions with field-level leaders at her 30 Hare Road office yesterday.

When asked about ex-president Ershad's joining the alliance, he said they want to accommodate any party that wants to join. But he hastened to add that BNP alone is enough to win the next general elections. "We will take as many as we can in the alliance," he told the journalists.

Citing West Bengal's ruling party as an example, Bhuiyan said the CPI (M) has won elections unilaterally for a long time, but they also formed alliances.

The ruling party leader disclosed that talks were also going on with many of the parties of Awami League-led 14-party opposition combine. He said, "Some of them may join our alliance."

When asked how they can welcome Ershad against whom they had once carried out a movement and had overthrown him from power, Bhuiyan alluded to the old political parlance: "There is no last word in politics."

"In parliamentary system, many such things may happen," he said, apparently putting across a no-objection posture with regard to taking in the deposed president in the process of their floating a mega-coalition for the forthcoming polls.

In this context, citing Awami League (AL) general secretary's statement, he said it seemed that Ershad could also switch sides to join them.

When asked about Jamaat's annoyance and complaint over the meeting with Ershad without consulting them, Bhuiyan said there were no complaints -- that was a preliminary meeting. "BNP always takes decision consulting partners of the alliance," he added.

Talking about the possible time for declaration of expansion of the alliance, he said it is too early to say, adding that it will take place at the right time.

Replying to another query about speculations that Ershad is under government pressure, he said, "No politicians bow to pressure and we also don't believe in exerting pressure."