After a gap of three years, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday shared dais with Afzal Ansari in Ghazipur on Monday. In June 2016, as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, in quest for a clean image of the party, had rebelled against his father Mulayam Singh Yadav and forced the party to severe its ties with Quami Ekta Dal headed by Afzal Ansari.
Mafia-turned-MLA Ansari is the younger brother of Afzal Ansari and is presently lodged in jail. On Monday, Akhilesh Yadav campaigned for Afzal Ansari, the Bahujan Samaj Party candidate from Ghazipur, and sought votes for him.
BSP chief Mayawati was also present. Akhilesh’s Opposition to the merge of Quami Ekta Dal with SP had become a major point of difference between the SP chief and his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav, who was a close aide of jailed muscleman Mukhtar Ansari.