Lucknow, Aug 27: Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh were today engaged in hectic activities to put together an alternative government with Samajwadi Party claiming to have reached the magic figure of 203 in the 403-member state assembly. Eight BSP legislators met Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri this evening and gave their letter of support for Yadav, senior Samajwadi Party leader Ambika Chowdhury told reporters here.

But the eight BSP MLAs cannot legally split the party and cross the floor under anti-defection law unless they are expelled from the party which has a strength of 111.
Chowdhury claimed 195 MLAs belonging to different parties, groups and Independents have given their letter of support in favour of SP chief.
He said that besides 142-member Samajwadi Party, 14 members of Rashtriya Lok Dal and four of Rashtriya Kranti Party had submitted support letters to the Governor yesterday.
Bureau Report