No merger for QED, SP; may go for alliance: Afzal Ansari

LUCKNOW: After failing to work out a merger, ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh and mafia don Mukhtar Ansari's Quami Ekta Dal (QED) could go in for an alliance for next year's Assembly election

"I had talks with SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and after Bakrid (on September 13), a decision on an alliance with the party could be taken after discussions with the other party leaders," QED national president Afzal Ansari told PTI.

"Instead of a merger, we will go for an alliance," Afzal, who was admitted in AIIMS and discharged yesterday, said.

"Mulayam had called me at the hospital," he added.

There was an announcement of merger of the two parties on June 21 at the SP headquarters in the presence of senior party leader Shivpal Yadav.

However, after three days, the SP parliamentary board called it off with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and SP state president Akhilesh Yadav reportedly being against it.

Recently, Mukhtar Ansari and his brother Sibghatullah, both MLAs, met Shivpal at the Assembly and there was once again a speculation regarding the alliance of the two parties.

The QED is believed to have a vote-base in some seats in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Assembly election is slated to be held in the state early next year.