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LUCKNOW: Lasting barely for 4 days, the ‘Quite Easily Done’ political marriage of the ruling Samajwadi Party with the Quami Ekta Dal (QED), has eventually ended in a divorce on Saturday at SP’s parliamentary board meeting.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting of SP parliamentary board, SP national general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav, said, “There will be no merger of Qaumi Ekta Dal in the Samajwadi Party.This has been decided at the parliamentary board meeting.”
Party president Afzal Ansari refused to speak on the issue (despite repeated calls and SMSes sent to him). On Saturday evening, he held closed door meeting with party workers on the day’s development. Party workers said that on Sunday, the party president may unveil his plan of action for the future.
QED party workers also told TOI that ever since the merger of QED with SP was announced, they were in a dilemma that how would they seek vote for SP in the upcoming assembly polls. “In fact, the party cadre heaved a sigh of relief as soon as the news that QED would not merge with SP broke,” a Lucknow-based party worker said. Party sources also said that party president Afzal Ansari and other senior party leaders were keeping a close watch on the day’s development, and had even expressed his doubts over the merger.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav expressed his unhappiness over the merger of QED in SP. “Mukhtar Ansari will not be welcome in the party. We do not want such people in the party,” Akhilesh said during a programme organised by a news channel.
The CM’s displeasure over the merger of QED and SP was evident a few days back when he said, “If (SP) party workers perform their responsibilities, then there will be no need of another party.”
The announcement of the merger on June 21 by UP Cabinet minister Shivpal Yadav, had initiated a tug-of-war in the family, with the CM saying that he didn't take the decision regarding the merger.