With eyes on 2017 UP polls, mafia don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's party merges with Samajwadi Party

The move is seen as an attempt by Samajwadi Party to hold on some Muslim vote bank before the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who on several occasions has reiterated his government's commitment to maintaining law and order in the state, raised quite a many eyebrows on Tuesday after mafia don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's party Qaumi Ekta Dal merged with his Samajwadi Party. 

The merger was formalised in the afternoon today. However, the Samajwadi Party has been trying to play it safe, and hence did not mention Ansari's name anywhere. 

The Samajwadi Party also inducted gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari and his brother Afzal Ansari into the party. Mukhtar represents Mau in the Assembly and the Bihar Police is keeping a tab on him in connection with the murder of journalist Rajdeo Ranjan.

The move has raised some serious questions on CM Akhilesh's commitment to maintaining law and order in the state. The Opposition has targeted Akhilesh on several occasions for patronising 'goonda raj' in the state.

According to News 18 report, the Samajwadi Party is trying for a strong base in eastern Uttar Pradesh, especially in Ghazipur, Mau, and Varanasi and thus, decided to join hands with Mukhtar, to whom it had lost when he had contested the 2009 general election on Bahujan Samaj Party ticket. 

Mukhtar, the Qaumi Ekta Dal MLA from Mau for four times, faces some serious charges. 

Mukhtar faces four murder charges and four charges of attempt to murder, alongwith two charges relating to cheating, one of forgery and five charges related to criminal intimidation. In addition, there are three charges related to rioting, armed with deadly weapon, lodged against him.