New Delhi, March 8 :     Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayavati today denied she was part of the Mamata Banerjee-sponsored ?women brigade?, formed to ensure the survival of the Vajpayee government. Reacting strongly to a statement made by the Trinamul Congress leader in the course of Rajat Sharma?s televised interview on Janata ki Adalat, Mayavati told here: ?I have nothing to do with her women?s brigade. I am the national vice-president of the BSP, which is a national party. I have twice been the chief minister. If I have to form a brigade, it will be under the BSP?s banner.? Embarrassed by Mamata?s remark, which was played up by the press to insinuate the possibility of the BSP supporting the Vajpayee-led coalition, Mayavati sought an explanation on phone. Mamata, said the BSP leader, dismissed the remark as a ?joke?. ?I pointed out that the papers had not reported it like a joke, but had taken her seriously. To how many people can I go around saying she meant it as a joke? I told Mamata to contradict her statement and say it was a joke.? Mayavati said since Mamata is a BJP ally, people would tend to ?read deeper meanings? in her remark, and the BSP?s supporters may get confused. ?All parties have latched on to Mamata?s statement and are trying to confuse my partymen,? she stressed. Though the BSP had opposed the Centre during the vote of confidence last year, it had supported imposition of Central rule in Bihar. Mayavati clarified the move was not aimed at ?strengthening the BJP?s hands?, but ?protecting the interests of Bihar?s Dalits? since Article 356 was invoked after Dalit killings in Jehanabad.