New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh appeared headed for a spell of President's rule with BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leaders said to be strongly in favour of such a course, party sources said on August 25.

The issue of what do next in UP in the wake of Chief Minister Mayawati's recommendation for dissolution of the Assembly after BJP withdrew support was discussed at a meeting Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and others, including Law Minister Arun Jaitley.

Tomorrow's (Aug 26) meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Board is also expected to analyse the party's poll prospects in the absence of BSP's (Bahujan Samaj Party) support as also the ASI's (Archaeological Survey of India) report on the Ayodhya excavations, which reportedly favours Hindu groups.

The party leaders and workers in Uttar Pradesh were not optimistic about the prospects in the event of the Assembly elections, the sources said.

Ahead of the elections, the party also is not keen on having an "uncomfortable" dispensation in Lucknow, which could create problems for them.

An indication of a move towards President's rule also came from Aurangabad where BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan said the "first option" before the BJP Parliamentary Board meeting would be "naturally President's rule".

"The first option is naturally President's rule, the second option is what the Chief Minister is asking, the third option is to try for a viable government. This will be discussed tomorrow," he said.

PTI