Father threatens to contest against chief minister if attempts to keep the party together fail

The Election Commission yesterday recognised the faction led by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav as the Samajwadi Party and allotted it the ‘cycle’ symbol, dealing a huge blow to his father Mulayam Singh Yadav.
The decision, less than a month before staggered Uttar Pradesh assembly election starts on February 11, was first announced by Akhilesh confidant Ram Gopal Yadav.
A beaming Ram Gopal Yadav, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, urged the people of Uttar Pradesh to vote Akhilesh Yadav back to power in the coming election.
“This is a just decision,” he told reporters. “The Election Commission will get the blessings of crores of people of Uttar Pradesh.”
The decision triggered wild celebrations among Akhilesh supporters in Lucknow, where the chief minister immediately headed to the house of his father and party founder Mulayam Singh.
The Samajwadi Party formally split on January 1 when the Akhilesh faction ousted Mulayam Singh as its president.
Both factions then petitioned the Election Commission to allot it the ‘cycle’ symbol.
After some two weeks of bitter fighting, the poll panel – which heard both versions for hours on Friday – yesterday voted in favour of Akhilesh Yadav.
Mulayam Singh, who has lost the support of the majority in the party, had been desperate to hold on to the symbol which he picked long ago.
An Election Commission official said: “The group led by Akhilesh Yadav is the Samajwadi Party and is entitled to use the ‘cycle’ symbol.”
Aware that splitting their party comes with the risk of splitting votes, the father and son have made repeated attempts to soften the lines dividing them, but mediation by Samajwadi leaders like Azam Khan.
In 2012, Akhilesh Yadav, then just 37 years old, cycled across Uttar Pradesh, promising its youth jobs, growth, computers and education. His energy and sincerity struck a chord in a state used to being placated or instigated by offerings based on caste, and he became the country’s youngest chief minister.
Earlier in the day, Mulayam Singh said he was prepared to contest against Akhilesh if attempts to keep the party united fail.
“Akhilesh is being misled by Ram Gopal. He is not even ready to listen to me. I invited him today to discuss matters but he didn’t come. If he doesn’t listen to me, I will contest against him,” Mulayam Singh said.
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav congratulated Akhilesh Yadav and urged Mulayam Singh Yadav to bless his son and mend broken bonds.
“I request Neta ji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) not to waste time and go bless Akhilesh,” Lalu Prasad told reporters in Patna.
Advising both Mulayam and Akhilesh not to fight, Lalu said that it was very important for them to unite to stop the “communal forces”.
“The communal forces will be benefited by the divide in Samajwadi Party... this country would not be saved if Narendra Modi come to power (in UP),” he said.
The RJD chief added Akhilesh’s triumph was also a victory for his father.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee too congratulated her Uttar Pradesh counterpart, saying he “deserved” the cycle symbol.
“Congratulations @yadavakhilesh for getting SP symbol. You deserve it,” the Trinamool Congress supremo tweeted.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Aggarwal said he supported his party forming an alliance with the Congress for the state elections.
Speaking to Times Now, Aggarwal expressed happiness that the party faction led by Akhilesh Yadav got the cycle symbol, and said “I am in favour of poll alliance with the Congress.
“This is to be decided by the chief minister and I also support it,” he said.

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