<p class="title">Relations between the BJP and its alliance partner — the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) — touched a new low with Uttar Pradesh BJP president Mahendra Nath Pandey publicly calling an MLA of the SBSP a "chor" (thief).</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pandey's remark came at a function in Ajgara Assembly constituency in the state's Chandauli district, about 300 kilometres from here, after inaugurating a development project in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma on Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Incidentally, SBSP MLA Kailash Sonker, who was called a "thief" by Pandey, represents Ajgara in the state Assembly.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The BJP president's remark came when journalists wanted to know as to why Sonker's name, who is the local MLA, was not on the foundation stone.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Maine uska naam isliye nahi likhwaya kyonki woh chor nikal gaya, (I did not get his name written on the stone as he is a thief)," Pandey said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Reacting to Pandey's remark, Sonker said that it reflected the BJP leader's mentality toward Dalits.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"They can say anything about Dalits. The next Lok Sabha polls in 2019 will prove who is a thief and who is honest," he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">SBSP president Om Prakash Rajbhar has also been spweing venom against BJP leaders, MLAs and other ministers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pandey had warned Rajbhar against criticising the BJP and said that the saffron party could sever its ties with the SBSP if Rajbhar did not mend his ways.</p>
<p class="title">Relations between the BJP and its alliance partner — the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) — touched a new low with Uttar Pradesh BJP president Mahendra Nath Pandey publicly calling an MLA of the SBSP a "chor" (thief).</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pandey's remark came at a function in Ajgara Assembly constituency in the state's Chandauli district, about 300 kilometres from here, after inaugurating a development project in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma on Tuesday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Incidentally, SBSP MLA Kailash Sonker, who was called a "thief" by Pandey, represents Ajgara in the state Assembly.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The BJP president's remark came when journalists wanted to know as to why Sonker's name, who is the local MLA, was not on the foundation stone.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Maine uska naam isliye nahi likhwaya kyonki woh chor nikal gaya, (I did not get his name written on the stone as he is a thief)," Pandey said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Reacting to Pandey's remark, Sonker said that it reflected the BJP leader's mentality toward Dalits.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"They can say anything about Dalits. The next Lok Sabha polls in 2019 will prove who is a thief and who is honest," he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">SBSP president Om Prakash Rajbhar has also been spweing venom against BJP leaders, MLAs and other ministers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Pandey had warned Rajbhar against criticising the BJP and said that the saffron party could sever its ties with the SBSP if Rajbhar did not mend his ways.</p>