Uttar Pradesh [Images] Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati [Images] on Saturday candidly disclosed that she had finalised her successor, but chose to keep his name a closely guarded secret.

The declaration came as a real surprise for her party workers who had converged in Lucknow from different corners of the country to participate in a day-long convention.

However, leaving everyone guessing , she said, "The successor I have chosen for myself is someone 18�20 years younger to me and hails from my own 'chamar' community, while hastening to add, "But let me make it absolutely clear that he is not anyone belonging to my family."

Mayawati told the massive rally, "I have penned down his name in a sealed packet, left in the safe custody of two of my close aides."

"These two persons have been told to open the packet and disclose the name of this successor either in the  event of my sudden death  or if my political adversaries succeed in their vicious gameplan of sending me to jail on trumped up charges," she said.

She even went to the extent of accusing her political opponents of "hatching a conspiracy to get her killed".

No sooner than the rally was over, party leaders were heard making their own speculations in hushed tones. However none was willing to discuss any names with the media.

Mayawati's attitude in respect of her successor was quite at variance with that of  her mentor Kanshi Ram who had made it loud and clear to all and sundry that none other than Mayawati would inherit his political legacy .