Akhilesh opposes, father Mulayam backs SP merger with Quami Ekta Dal?

Lucknow: Amid murmurs of discontent in the Samajwadi Party over the controversial merger with gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's Qaumi Ekta Dal, UP minister Shivpal Singh Yadav on Wednesday said he had announced the decision with the consent of party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Yadav said everything was "alright in the party", a day after Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav indicated his unhappiness over the merger and sacked Cabinet minister Balram Yadav, who apparently facilitated the move.

"Everything is alright in the party. It is the right of the Chief Minister (Akhilesh Yadav) to appoint ministers. I announced merger of QED with the consent of Netaji (Mulayam)," he told reporters in Lucknow.

Shivpal, who met the Chief Minister earlier in the day, said, "There was no discussion on expulsion of minister Balram Yadav. We discussed other issues related to organisational matters and party's strategy on Assembly polls due next year."

Shivpal, who the brother of Mulayam Singh Yadav, said that a meeting of parliamentary board has been called and whatever decision is to be taken, would be taken by "Netaji". "His decision is supreme," he said.