New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati today (Feb 2, 2004) dismissed as "baseless" reports that her party has entered into an alliance with Congress and gave clear hints that she was not averse to doing business with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) if the Prime Minister publicly realised that "step-motherly treatment" was meted out to her in the last few months.

"If the Prime Minister realises in front of the people of the country that step-motherly attitude was adopted towards me, then I will consider," the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister told reporters when asked whether there was any chance of her party softening its stance towards BJP.

Mayawati, who had called a press conference to deny reports that a tie-up was arrived at with Congress at the dinner she hosted for the Congress president two days back, insisted that no decision has been taken on the issue of alliance with any party.

The BSP leader said that she was grateful to the Prime Minister for "suddenly remembering his second daughter" while addressing a meeting at Ranchi notwithstanding the fact that the reference was made in a satirical manner.

"This is a good thing. I thank him for it", she said, adding that this was because there was "step-motherly treatment towards the second daughter since the last few days (months)".

"Maya is with Sonia Gandhi but we are spreading the jaal (web) of prosperity," Vajpayee had said taking a swipe at the Congress president for her accusation that his Government was spreading "mayajaal" (illusion).