Lucknow: Alleging large-scale rigging and misuse of official machinery by Mulayam Singh Yadav Government in Uttar Pradesh in just-concluded bypolls, BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) chief Mayawati today (Oct 26, 2004) demanded imposition of President's rule in the State.

"The manner in which the bypolls were rigged, booths captured and official machinery was misused, it is clear the UP Government has no faith in democratic norms and traditions," Mayawati told reporters in Lucknow.

"Therefore, the President's rule should be imposed in the State to save democracy," she said.

"It is the duty of the Union Government to take stern measures against the SP (Samajwadi Party)-led Government. Otherwise, the people of the State will never pardon Congress which is leading the Government at the Centre," Mayawati said.

"The SP indulged in gross irregularities as it was aware that in case of free and fair elections it will fare very badly," she said.

If there were fair elections, the BSP would have won all the seats wiping out the SP, she said.

Mayawati, who earlier in the day addressed a meeting of party workers, refused to spell out BSP's strategy on BJP's plans to bring a no-confidence motion against the Mulayam Singh Yadav Government in the Assembly.

"We will discuss our strategy when they will bring the motion," she said.