Mayawati does not rule out early Lok Sabha polls

The Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Sunday did not rule out the possibility of an early general election, but maintained that her party would continue to provide outside support to the UPA government despite its "anti-people" policies for keeping the communal forces at bay.

"Whether the polls in the country are held before or as per schedule, the BSP is ready. Our party is putting all effort in this (preparing for the polls)," she told reporters at a press conference.

When pressed about the possibility of snap polls despite Finance Minister P Chidambaram ruling it out, Mayawati said, "I can't say anything now."

She, however, hurriedly added, "jo haalat chal rahein hein lag rahan hein ki samay say pehle wae ho sakte hein (as the situation is right now, it seems these (polls) can be held before schedule also)."

Despite anti-people policies of the Congress-led UPA, she said, her party was giving outside support to keep the "communal forces" at bay.

"Our party is not satisfied with their (Centre's) policies," she said, adding that these policies were affecting farmers, employees, poor people and other sections of society.

"Especially when it (the policies) comes to the weaker sections, we are not satisfied at all," she said.

Asked about Narendra Modi's emergence as the leading claimant for the BJP's prime ministerial nominee, Mayawati evaded a direct reply on this, saying the Gujarat chief minister was not in her party.

She also ducked a similar question fielded on Rahul Gandhi, saying the Congress could answer it.

Earlier, the former UP chief minister said she was here to attend a 'Shanti Paath' (prayer meeting) held in the memory of BSP founder late Kanshi Ram's younger sister.

Mayawati said she was saddened by the death of 63-year-old Gurcharan Kaur. "She truly followed in the footsteps of Kanshi Ram ji and I am saddened by her untimely death," she said.

The prayer meeting was held in a village in Zirakpur, Punjab.