Small parties in UP, including BJP ally SBSP, term SP-BSP a 'big challenge' for saffron party

Small parties in the Uttar Pradesh on Monday expressed mixed reactions over the tie-up between political arch rivals the SP and the BSP, with some hailing it as a "big challenge" and another dubbing it as an "opportunistic alliance".

Even BJP ally, SBSP, whose president Om Prakash Rajbhar is also a minister in the Yogi government maintained that the SP-BSP combine would be a big challenge to the ruling party.

Hailing the SP-BSP alliance, the NISHAD (Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal) said it was very much part of this grand alliance.

"We wanted that the two big parties to come together first and then we will get the seats we want to fight on our symbol from the SP. I have already spoken with Akhilesh (Yadav) ji and there is already agreement with him (on seat sharing). In two-three days the situation will be clear," NISHAD Party chief Sanjay Nishad told PTI.

Reacting to the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party tie up in the state that has thrown open the contest in the state, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) general secretary Arvind Rajbhar told PTI: "I think the alliance is a big challenge for the BJP."