The merger of the Gangster-turned-politician, Mukhtar Ansari’s Quami Ekta Dal (QED) with the Samajwadi Party ahead of the upcoming UP elections in 2017 seems to have hit troubled waters within 24 hours of its inception.
The move aimed at tapping the muslim vote bank in eastern Uttar Pradesh where Ansari enjoys considerable clout among the minority community was met with intense criticism from not just the opposition, but from within the party itself.
UP Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav, reportedly was one of the leading voices in the party to have opposed a merger that had the blessing of party patriarch, Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Showing his displeasure at the move, barely hours after the announcement of the merger, Akhilesh on Tuesday sacked Balram Singh, an influential east UP leader of the Samajwadi Party for helping facilitate the alliance, reports DNA.
Akhilesh fears the addition of tainted MPs such as Mukhtar Ansari to his party could smear his image of a young leader who is willing to work against the corrupt and powerful for the welfare of the state.
Using this fresh ammunition, BJP also targeted the ruling party over law and order issues ahead of next year’s Assembly polls saying it showed the ruling party is “dependent” on criminals to win polls in Uttar Pradesh as it no longer enjoys the people’s support.
The Akhilesh Yadav government does not have faith in people. It has faith in criminals and is dependent on them in the polls.
Talking about the merger, QED President Afzal Ansari whose party has two MLAs, Mukhtar Ansari and Sigbatullaha Ansari, said that the decision was taken as the two parties did not want to cut each others votes during the upcoming assembly elections.
(With agency inputs.)
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