2017 Uttar Pradesh polls: Quami Ekta Dal merges with Samajwadi Party again; big blow to Akhilesh Yadav

In a big blow to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav ahead of the 2017 Uttar Pradesh elections, don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari has again merged his party Qaumi Ekta Dal with the ruling Samajwadi Party in the state. 

However, Shivpal Yadav has said that the decision to merge the two parties was taken on the advice SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh.

On June 21, 2016, Ansari had merged Qaumi Ekta Dal with SP in the first merger or coalition between parties in the state ahead of assembly polls to be held early next year.  

“QED has merged with SP which would strengthen the party,” SP spokesman and senior Cabinet Minister Shivpal Yadav had announced back then after a press conference.

However, Shivpal had to cancel the decision after Akhilesh openly expressed his unhappiness following the merger.