``The Bahujan Samaj Party would contest the coming Lok Sabha polls alone. We will not have a poll understanding with any party like in the recently held Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh,'' Bahujan Samaj Party national vice-president Mayawati told reporters here. The Bahujan Samaj Party leader flayed Congress leaders for saying that an alliance was on the cards between them, adding that the statement was only aimed at arresting ``the mass exodus from their party''.

``Even if Congress president Sonia Gandhi contests from the Amethi parliamentary seat, the BSP would field a formidable candidate against her,'' Mayawati said.

She also claimed that the Bahujan Samaj Party had ``lost'' 40 seats in Uttar Pradesh inthe 1996 Assembly elections due to its alliance with the Congress. ``We have come to know that the Bahujan Samaj Party's vote is transferable while the Congress vote is not and therefore there is no logic in going with them,'' she added.

``We want to bring all the castes represented by the Bahujan Samaj on one platform and form their alliance to post a victory over the Manuvadi forces,'' she added.

The Bahujan Samaj, including Backwards, Scheduled Castess, Scheduled Tribes and minorities, according to her, forms 85 per cent of the vote bank and once they come together, her party would be able to form a government of its own at the Centre and work for their welfare.

Mayawati's decision has caused a flutter in political circles. It is being felt that the move, though a bold one, will not herald any significance for the party as it will get isolated further.