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Opposition does not have the numbers: Mayawati

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JUNE 13. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati, today appeared unruffled by the Opposition moves against her coalition Government and insisted she could take the support of over two dozen Samajwadi Party MLAs whenever she wanted to.

She also indicated that the Council of Ministers would be expanded after consulting the allies. She also endorsed the statement by the BJP State unit chief, Vinay Katiyar, that any attempt to topple her Government could result in mid-term polls.

Speaking to presspersons after a 30-minute meeting with the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, before leaving for Lucknow this evening, Ms. Mayawati said she apprised Mr. Vajpayee of her overseas trip.

Dismissing reports that the political struggle in Uttar Pradesh would become intense after her return to Lucknow, she said the Opposition had lost steam. This could be gauged from the statement of their leaders about seeking a verdict from the "people's court".

The Opposition did not have the numbers to challenge the majority enjoyed by her Government. Defending the Governor, Vishnu Kant Shastri's decision, she said he was right in rejecting their demand since they did not have the requisite strength.

Asked about reports of the former Minister, Amar Mani Tripathi, not willing to take summons issued by the CB-CID, which was probing the murder of poetess Madhumita Shukla, Ms. Mayawati said it would not be correct to say that.

On the problems of sugarcane farmers, she said the Agriculture Minister, Rajnath Singh, might not be aware that sugarmill owners had moved court. She was reacting to Mr. Singh's statement that as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, he had ensured that the cane growers got their due.

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