Uttar Pradesh was plunged into a political crisis on Monday with the Bahujan Samaj Party-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition collapsing soon after Chief Minister Mayawati recommended dissolution of the state assembly and holding of fresh elections.

Springing a surprise on the BJP, with whom she has had troubled relations after the Taj Heritage Corridor controversy erupted, Mayawati called a cabinet meeting where she offered to step down. She also severed the BSP's ties with BJP.
    

Soon after the state cabinet meeting, Lalji Tandon, leader of the BJP Legislature Party and state Urban Development Minister, consulted BJP ministers and its allies on the next course of action at his home. He then drove to the Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Vishnukant Shastri.

Tandon handed over a letter to the governor withdrawing the BJP's support to the coaltion government formed in April 2002.

"No government in Uttar Pradesh can run against our wishes," Tandon said.

Shortly afterwards, Mayawati rushed to the governor and gave him a letter claiming to contain the cabinet's recommendations for dissolution of the assembly and holding of polls at the earliest.

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Though the reasons for Mayawati's decision are not clear, the chief minister has been under intense scrutiny after the Taj corridor project controversy.

Mayawati told reporters there was no question of her resignation till her recommendation for dissolution of the state assembly was accepted. She said her decision was taken in the interest of preventing instability, horse-trading and attempts to lure away MLAs.
    

Rejecting Mayawati's recommendation, state BJP President Vinay Katiyar said the BJP did not agree with Mayawati's recommendation as it was "one sided." His party had already withdrawn support, he added.
  

Shastri told reporters after meeting with Mayawati that he would take an appropriate decision at the earliest.

BJP spokesman V K Malhotra, speaking to reporters in New Delhi after top BJP leaders met at the prime minister's home, said the party's alliance with the BSP has ended.

He said the BJP Parliamentary Board will meet on Tuesday to decide its course of action in UP.

More reports from Uttar Pradesh

Rediff Political Bureau, PTI