New Delhi: Fearing a possible arrest in the 'Taj Corridor' case, BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) leader Mayawati has indicated to her party men that Rajya Sabha member Gandhi Azad would lead the party in the event of her imprisonment.

Highly placed party sources said she gave the indication at the meeting of the party's state and district presidents and office bearers in New Delhi yesterday (July 18, 2004). In her marathon four and a half hour address, she spoke of her possible arrest and said Azad would "carry her message to the people".

The sources said that former Uttar Pradesh Advocate General S C Mishra, who was recently made organisation's General Secretary, would look after the legal aspects of her cases.

Mishra has represented her in the controversial Taj corridor case in which the BSP supremo fears an arrest. Party spokesman Sudhir Goyal, however, sought to clarify the developments saying, "Azad would only be acting as a bridge and coordinator between Mayawati and party workers in the event of her arrest.

"Mayawati has not named Azad her successor but said that he would be continuing her work even if she is in prison," he added.