Confusion prevailed on Wednesday night over Uttar Pradesh Governor Vishnukant Shastri's invitation to Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav to form an alternative government in the state.

While senior Samajwadi Party leader Ambika Chowdhury claimed Yadav has received a communication from Raj Bhawan asking the SP chief to take oath on August 28 at 1500 hours, special secretary to the governor R K Ojha told PTI: "To the best of my knowledge no such communication has been issued so far."

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As the news of Yadav's taking oath as chief minister spread, BJP legislature party leader Lalji Tandon was quoted by a television news channel as congratulating the SP chief.

Earlier in the evening Yadav met the governor, but did not give him any list of MLAs backing his bid for an alternative government.

He, however, claimed the backing of 210 MLAs and pressed for a trial of strength on the floor of the assembly even as Raj Bhawan said its decision will be announced on Thursday.

On a day of hectic political activity in the opposition camp trying to rope in support from various quarters for government formation, 13 BSP MLAs extended support to Yadav.