Yogi Adityanath calls it ‘unholy’; Shiv Sena jibe at Congress

The pre-poll tie up of the SP and the BSP in Uttar Pradesh has put a question mark on the "mahagathbandhan" or grand alliance envisaged by the Congress, the Shiv Sena said Saturday.

Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said both parties are ideologically opposite and their coming together has dealt the first "blow" to the Congress's vision of a grand alliance.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called SP-BSP coalition a casteist and unholy alliance. "This is a coalition of casteist, corrupt and opportunistic mindset that doesn't want development and good governance. The public knows everything and this unholy alliance will be given a perfect answer," he said.

Terming the SP-BSP tie-up as "gunaahbandhan", Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey said it was a means to cover up crimes and an attempt to save each other's identity. "Also, by raising questions on EVMs today, Mayawati has admitted her defeat," Pandey said.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram Saturday said his party was ready to fight the Lok Sabha elections alone but hoped there would be a rethink on the SP-BSP alliance for Uttar Pradesh.