Mayawati rules out BJP-BSP coalition government in UP

Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati has ruled out a coalition government in Uttar Pradesh with the Bharatiya Janata Party or the United Front.

Her party, she declared, is ready to face a fresh assembly election. Mayawati told United News of India, ''We are not hungry for power. We will accept the support of any party or front from outside.''

The former UP chief minister claimed she would not compromise principles for power.

The BSP leader stressed that the alliance between her party and the Congress still existed in UP, and announced that her party would field its candidates for two of the 13 seats for the state legislative council, an election for which is to be held on February 6.

Asked if BJP leader and former chief minister Kalyan Singh was an obstacle in the way of a BSP government with BJP support from outside, Mayawati said she did not want to comment on internal affairs of the BJP.

She admitted that BJP and BSP leaders had discussed the issue of forming a government in UP, but could not reach any conclusion. She ruled out the possibility of talks between the leaders of the two parties at the state level on this score.