Shown doors by Samajwadi Party, Qaumi Ekta Dal 'trying to form third front'

After its merger with Samajwadi Party failed to last even a week, Qaumi Ekta Dal said on Friday it was trying to form a third front without SP, BSP and BJP.

"We are trying to form a third front without SP, BSP and BJP by uniting all the smaller parties. This will come in shape by the next month," QED President Afzal Ansari said.

"I feel whether it is Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM or Congress, in the present policial scenario, they will come together on one forum. Next month, a joint press conference of 23 parties will be held in Lucknow," he claimed in Ballia.

Asked about parties with which talks were going on, he said, "except SP, BSP and BJP we are talking to every party".

With Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav putting his foot down, Samajwadi Party had last month called off its merger with gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's party three days after the decision was announced. The announcement of the merger was made on June 21 by Cabinet Minister Shivpal Yadav, brother party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

On controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, Afzal said he was an able person and his image was being maligned with a conspiracy.