UP polls 2017: Qaumi Ekta Dal joins Samajwadi party

Lucknow: The Qaumi Ekta Dal, a party led by Afzal Ansari, elder brother of mafia don turned politician Mukhtar Ansari, finally merged into the Samajwadi party on Tuesday but without the jailed mafia don. Announcing the merger at a press conference, senior UP minister Shivpal Singh Yadav said that the ‘home coming’ of the Ansari brothers would strengthen the Samajwadi party.

Replying to questions, Mr Yadav clarified that Mukhtar Ansari was not a part of the merger but other leaders were joining the party. According to reports, Mukhtar Ansari will contest his Mau seat as an independent candidate but with SP support—just like independent minister Raja Bhaiyya does.

Mukhtar Ansari has been lodged in jail since 2005 in connection with the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai. Sources said that uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, who is also the state party president, was strongly opposed to taking Mukhtar Ansari into the party. Mr Akhilesh Yadav did not attend the press conference to announce the merger.