New Delhi, June 23: The BJP is keeping its options open for alliances in Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu but would retain the company of existing coalition partners from other states. "We already have DMK as our partner in Tamil Nadu but some new allies may come in the state," BJP sources said but declined to name the new friends.

Asked whether the new allies meant AIADMK, with which the BJP has been cosying up to in recent months, the sources declined to elaborate. The BJP central leadership would like to keenly watch how its relationship with its present ally DMK progresses in the wake of strain in ties with the state unit of BJP.

Another irritant in the party's tieup with a regional party in Orissa, where the ties between BJP and ruling BJD have come under strain. However, party would like to dismiss it as "a local problem" and is confident that it would be sorted out.

The BJP may be forced to raise the Ram temple issue in coming assembly elections if opposition parties do so in the course of the campaign. "Though the party is not making it an election issue, but if the opposition raises it during the coming assembly polls, the party may be forced to do so to counter this campaign," BJP sources said.

"We want an early settlement of the Ayodhya issue as delaying its resolution was not in national interest. The party is keen that it be settled either through a legislation or negotiated settlement," the sources said.

The sources said RSS leadership has told BJP that it would convey the party's views on issues like Ram temple to the VHP specially in the wake of the Sangh Parivar supporting the VHP on it. Bureau Report