Lucknow, Mar 8 (IANS): Uttar Pradesh Governor B.L. Joshi Wednesday accepted the resignation of outgoing Chief Minister Mayawati and asked her to continue on the post till the next government is formed.

A press communique issued by the Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh said Mayawati would continue as the caretaker chief minister till the next government is sworn in.

Mayawati had met the governor Wenesday noon and submitted her resignation. Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh Yadav met the governor at Raj Bhawan late in the evening. While many believed that the power duo would be staking claim to form the next government, the call was largely a courtesy call.

"Mulayam Singh ji and his son Akhilesh came to the Raj Bhawan to wish the governor and his wife a happy Holi" an official told IANS.

Earlier in the day, the parliamentary party meeting of the SP had taken place and had sealed the name of Mulayam Singh Yadav as the next chief minister. While some members had forwarded the name of Akhilesh, the board decided on the name of Mulayam, a source said.

Confirming this, Akhilesh told press reporters that it was Netaji and no one else who would be sworn as the chief minister. Emerging out of the meeting he reiterated that Mulayam would be taking over as the chief minister.

The legislature party meeting of the SP is likely to be called after Holi and the name of Mulayam sealed on that day, a senior party official said. It is widely believed that Mulayam will stake claim to form the government and would be sworn in as the chief minister on March 12.