If that happens, Congress may well get to play the role of a spoiler and join hands with the BSP's rival, the Samajwadi Party, to form a coalition government.

BBC: Why Uttar Pradesh is India's battleground state

The Deputy-Director General then spoke about consolidating services, and announced that the DG has decided to create one consolidated Administrative Office (AO) for Corporate and Programme support services at Headquarters (MSS, BFM, HRM, ERI, BSP, AFR, BFC, GBS, ODG), with focal points for each sector and bureau.

UNESCO: Summary of Senior Management Team meeting of 2 July 2012

About 150 furious supporters of Ms Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) then marched to Ms Joshi's house in the state capital, Lucknow, and set it on fire, reports the BBC's Ram Dutt Tripathi.

BBC: India leader held over comments