Rediff

Lucknow, Aug 9: Unfazed by the failure of efforts to pull down the United Progressive Alliance government that may have pitchforked her into national centrestage, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Saturday said that nobody could stop her from becoming prime minister.

In a show of strength a fortnight after the attempt in Parliament floundered, the Bahujan Samaj Party leader addressed a huge gathering of her party workers and supporters in Lucknow. A surprise presence in the stage was that of suspended Congress leader and former external affairs minister K Natwar Singh.

Natwar Singh and his son Jagat Singh, an expelled Congress legislator in Rajasthan, are expected to join the BSP.

"If I can become chief minister of UP four times... why can't I become the prime minister? If people from sarv samaj (all castes) continue to support the BSP, nobody can prevent me from becoming the prime minister," she said addressing the party's National Workers Convention in Lucknow.

Mayawati accused the "casteist" forces, UPA and the National Democratic Alliance, of conspiring against her before the trust-vote in Parliament so that "a Dalit could not become the PM."

"I am proud of being born in a Dalit family. My life is a struggle and I will continue to work for Dalits and the poor throughout my life," she said striking an emotional chord with party workers.

Alleging that oppoistion parties were trying to malign the BSP government in the state, she cautioned party workers to remain alert against any propaganda against her government.