In a late night development, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati is understood to have secured the resignations of 12 Bahujan Samaj Party ministers.

This was done apprently to make room for the eight Congress rebels who have formed an independent group -- the Akhil Bharatiya Congress Dal -- and declared their support to Mayawati's government.

Mayawati claimed in New Delhi on Friday that at least two dozen Samajwadi Party MLAs were also ready to join her party.

"Soon , you will find more MLAs from rival parties joining Behenji", a senior BSP minister told rediff.com.

Mayawati held a closed-door meeting with her party legislators on Thursday night. It was at this meeting that the resignations of 12 ministers were secured.

Mayawati told her partymen that the move was necessary to strengthen the foundations of her government.