Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has indicated that nearly two dozen MLAs from the Samajwadi Party were in touch with her to break away from the party and join hands with her BSP.Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the signing of the Taj Expressway project, Mayawati said: ‘‘Just like the Congress split recently, there could be another surprise waiting for the SP.’’ However, she declined to give any details.The Chief Minister also said that the POTA case against jailed Independent MLA Raja Bhaiyya would not be withdrawn and that she stood by whatever she had said on this matter earlier.‘‘We have taken strong action against the most influential and dreaded criminals and mafia in the past eight months, without fear or prejudice,’’ she added.Regarding giving ministerial berths to rebel Congress MLAs, the Chief Minister said: ‘‘Right now I am very busy and I will consider the matter when I am free.’’On whether the BJP and the BSP will have a poll alliance in the coming Assembly by-elections in the state, Mayawati said the electoral tie-up was restricted only to the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. ‘‘We can either join hands (with the BJP) or go it alone,’’ she said.On UP BJP President Vinay Katiyar’s reported outbursts, she said: ‘‘Whatever reports are circulating are rumours concocted by my enemies.’’ Meanwhile, SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav today said in Jhansi that some IAS and IPS officials had clandestinely placed an AK-56 rifle in Raja Bhaiyya’s Bhadri palace which the police claimed they recovered.‘‘This rifle was recovered from a terrorist and I know the name of the officials who played this dirty trick with the jailed MLA,’’ Yadav told reporters. Yadav demanded a CBI enquiry into the incident and immediate suspension of the DM and SSP of Pratapgarh district.
