New Delhi, Mar 20: The Election Commission (EC) has rejected the merger of Janata Dal (United) and the Samata Party saying the merger was not supported "totally" by the party`s rank and file. The EC heard two factions of the Samata Party that differed on the merger here today, and decided that the merger was "not total" because of the dispute.

The merger ran into rough weather after Samata MP Brahmanand Mandal claimed before the EC that he did not support it.
Meanwhile, the EC allowed the breakaway Brahmanand Mandal faction to operate under Samata Party`s name and granted it the ``torch`` symbol.
The move comes in the wake of the bid by Samata Party, headed by Defence Minister George Fernandes, merging with JD(U).
Bureau Report