Akhilesh, not Mulayam, to be chosen CM of UP

Akhilesh Yadav, not Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, will be appointed Uttar Pradesh (UP) chief minister (CM), sources said. Akhilesh, who led the SP to a thumping victory in the recently concluded UP assembly polls, for the first time deviated from his standard Netaji-will-be-CM remark. He said on Friday that the decision will be taken during a party meeting on Saturday.

Party sources said the SP think tank comprising Mulayam Singh, his younger brother Shivpal Singh Yadav and SP general secretary professor Ramgopal Yadav have reached a consensus on appointing Akhilesh as CM considering the huge mandate from the people of UP.

Mulayam wants to hand over the responsibility to his son due to his failing health. He has also set his sights on the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.