Lucknow: Disputing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's claim that over two-dozen Samajwadi Party (SP) Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) were in touch with her, the SP on June 14 made a counter claim, saying at least 36 Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLAs were ready to switch over to it if they were assured its ticket in the next Assembly polls.

"At least 36 BSP legislators are ready to switch their loyalties. They simply want an assurance from us that they will be given SP tickets in the Assembly polls," SP state unit president Ram Saran Das told reporters.

He said Mayawati's claim that some SP MLAs were in touch with her was a "white lie".

Claiming that the alliance government in the state had bee reduced to a minority, he said the government was short of the halfway mark by "at least 10 to 15 MLAs".

"Why is the Chief Minister shying away from holding an Assembly session if she is so sure of her majority?" Das asked.

He said the Chief Minister's statement that she would not convene the session of the House under 'any circumstances' is reflective of her "autocratic attitude".

Das said the Opposition would unitedly oppose the Mayawati government.

PTI