Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party have struck an alliance in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. This is meant to decimate the strength of the ruling BJP, which won 71 seats in 2014 from this State.

As per an agreement struck by Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati, the two parties will contest from 38 seats each. Importantly, Congress is not a part of this deal.

Reacting to this one of the most important political developments, Congress leader and former UPA Minister P Chidambaram today said, "Perhaps this isn't the last word, maybe there will be some rethink as the elections approach. A truly broad-based alliance will be formed in UP. If necessary, Congress party will contest elections on its own strength."

As for the BJP, it's trying to put a strong face. UP CM Yogi Adityanath said that the SP-BSP coalition is a "casteist, corrupt and opportunistic" one.