Lucknow, Dec 11 (IANS) In a surprise move that could give the centre some more sleepless nights, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati Friday declared her outright preference for further partition of UP and creation of independent states of Bundelkhand and Harit Pradesh.

"I have written a letter to prime minister Manmohan Singh, urging him to give clearance for carving out independent states of Bundelkhand and Harit Pradesh out of a giant sized and unmanageable Uttar Pradesh," Mayawati told a hurriedly convened press conference here Friday evening.

"Since the centre has already given its nod for carving out the state of Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh, there was good enough reason to follow the same exercise in case of UP, where the demand for an independent Bundelkhand in southern UP and a Harit Pradesh in western UP was being raised for a long time," she said.

While political observers felt that the move was aimed at creating greater discomfort for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre already grappling with the gradually increasing demand for statehood from different corners of the country, Mayawati sought to justify her demand by impressing that she had had these views for long.

"I was always in favour of smaller states as they are much simpler to govern," she said adding: "These views have been expressed by me on several occasions in the past as well."

The UP chief minister said: "In the past too, on March 15, 2008, I had sent a letter to the prime minister, urging him to consider the demand of the people of Bundelkhand and of western UP for giving them independent statehood."

She said: "Still earlier on October 8, 2007, I had expressed these view at a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) rally in Lucknow."

According to her: "My party legislators too had formally raised this demand on the floor of the state assembly on October 31, 2007... therefore, it was now time for the centre to act."

Asked if she would move a resolution in this regard in the state assembly, Mayawati shot back: "Well, I would do so once the centre has given its approval in principle."

Meanwhile, in an appeal to the people of these two regions, she has urged them "not to indulge in any activity that is likely to disturb law and order in the state." She, however, assured to "extend full support to the popular demand of the people".