24 SP MLAs waiting to join BSP govt: Mayawati

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Friday night said two dozen MLAs from the Samajwadi Party in the state were in touch with her to break away from the party and join her government.

"Just like the Congress surprise (when the party split), there could be another surpise in the SP," she told reporters on the sidelines of a function in connection with the Taj Expressway project in Delhi.

These legislators are 'fed up' with the SP, Mayawati claimed. She did not elaborate

In reply to another query, Mayawati said the POTA case against jailed independent MLA Raghuraj Pratap Singh would not be withdrawn and she stood by whatever she had said on this matter earlier.

On whether the BJP and BSP will have a poll understanding in the coming byelections in the state, Mayawati said the electoral tie up between the two parties was restricted only to the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.