A war of words has broken out between the UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and BSP president Mayawati. To be precise, over the word, 'bua'.

UP CM Akhilesh Yadav during a speech last October, referred to the BSP chief Mayawati as 'bua' or aunt (father's sister), which irked her.

So the CM today asked a counter question. "If I don't call her bua, what should I call Mayawati? Everyone calls the BSP chief 'behenji', what's wrong if I call her bua," said Akhilesh.

Last year in October, launching an attack on the BSP chief, Akhilesh Yadav had used the word, 'bua'.

Speaking at a function at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia University, he said, "I am not afraid, but fear of bua (aunt) should be in everybody's mind".

At that point of time Akhilesh's comment was construed as an attempt to dilute his father Mulayam Singh Yadav's comment about Mayawati. 

Mulayam Singh had earlier said, "Unko kya kahen yeh samajh mein nahi aata. shrimati kahen, kunwari beti ya behenji kahen (I am at a loss about how to address her. Whether to address her as shrimati, kunwari or behenji)."

Mayawati, for obvious reasons, did not like the comment.

At a public meeting in Roorkee, she retorted by saying that UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav was Mulayam's "lallua" (baby).

She further said that calling Mulayam Singh her brother was below her dignity. "I will feel humiliated and insulted if he is called my brother because he has cheap mentality against our saints, mentors and great leaders," said Mayawati.

Mayawati repeated her reservation over the choice of word to address at a recent rally in Agra. She advised Akhilesh not to show fake affection towards her.