Goa, Nov. 5 -- Ahead of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the BJP faces growing friction within its alliance as local partners strongly push back against plans by Bihar-based NDA allies to expand into the state.

The tension comes right before Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan launches his party's "Nav Sankalpa Mahasabha" campaign from Varanasi. Additionally, JD(U) leader and Bihar Health Minister Nishant Kumar-son of former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-is scheduled to address party workers in Uttar Pradesh.

These expansion moves triggered an aggressive reaction from Om Prakash Rajbhar's Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), an existing NDA ally in Uttar Pradesh. Drawing a firm ...