Earlier, Samajwadi Party patriarch MSY on Monday attempted a truce with his son and UP CM Akhilesh Yadav while shifting the onus on his cousin Ramgopal Yadav for the entire fiasco.
In a move signifying a possible end to the prolonged family feud once and for all, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Yadav on Monday asserted that Akhilesh Yadav is the face of the party for the next chief minister of the state, adding that the party stands united.
Speaking to ANI here, Mulayam stated that the SP is united and will soon set out to campaign across the state as one.
‘For the benefit of the entire state, our party stands united. There is no question of any division whatsoever in the party and we will begin campaigning soon. Akhilesh will be the next chief minister, there is no doubt about that,’ he said.
The development can be seen as an olive branch extended towards Akhilesh’s camp by Mulayam, as both the sides had taken the fight all the way to the Election Commission’s door over the party symbol.
The ruling SP is in the middle of an intense power struggle with Mulayam and his brother Shivpal Yadav on one side and Mulayam’s son, Akhilesh, and cousin Ramgopal Yadav on the other.
In a bid to buttress claim over the 'cycle' symbol, Akhilesh Yadav-led camp represented by Ram Gopal had earlier on Saturday submitted an affidavit mentioning that Samajwadi Party leaders are supporting the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.
Ramgopal said that the relevant documents, brought in "seven cartons with more than 1.5 lakh pages", were submitted to the poll panel to assert Akhilesh's right over the party's name and symbol.
He said that he submitted affidavits of 4,716 delegates of the total 5,731, indicating overwhelming support for Akhilesh.
The Election Commission had given both sides time till January 9 to submit proof of their legislative support.
However, if the Election Commission cannot reach any decision before January 17, then the party symbol might be frozen and two different symbols would be provide to both factions for contesting the assembly elections.
The assembly elections in the most populous and politically significant state in India will be held in seven phases beginning February 11.
RS chairman receives letter from Mulayam expelling Ram Gopal Yadav
Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari has received a letter from the party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav intimating expulsion of Ram Gopal Yadav from the party. Meanwhile, Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday attempted a truce with his son and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav while shifting the onus on his cousin Ram Gopal for the entire fiasco. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister made the assertion as he approached the Election Commission to stake claim over the Samajwadi Party’s symbol ‘cycle’. Mulayam, who yesterday declared that he was still the party boss, also hinted that all issues would be resolved at the earliest.
‘There is some problem in the party. One person is behind this feud...sure that issues will be resolved. There is no problem between me and my son (Akhilesh Yadav). Our party symbol is disputed. The Election Commission will decide on the symbol,’ Mulayam said.
Stating that the ball is now in the court of the Election Commission of India, Mulayam said that it was up to the former to decide which faction of the party would get the symbol ‘cycle’. Meanwhile, Akhilesh’s mentor Ram Gopal and senior leader Naresh Agarwal also visited the Election Commission office to stake over the same. Mulayam, who yesterday made it clear that he was still the party chief will also urged the Election Commission to check the authenticity and legality of papers submitted by Ram Gopal.
Mulayam also stated yesterday that Ram Gopal had no right to call the convention on January 1 as he had suspended him from the Samajwadi Party earlier.
In a bid to buttress claim over the 'cycle' symbol, Akhilesh Yadav-led camp represented by Ram Gopal had earlier on Saturday submitted an affidavit mentioning that Samajwadi Party leaders are supporting the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.
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