Akhilesh Yadav gets ’cycle’, the Samajwadi Party symbol

mangaloretoday/yahoo

New Delhi, Jan 16: In a move that could have a significant impact on the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was given the Samajwadi Party symbol, the ‘bicycle’, by the Election Commission on Monday.

The EC said that the bicycle symbol belongs to the Akhilesh-led Samajwadi Party.

Both factions of the Samajwadi Party headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh had approached the Election Commission for control over the party’s election symbol ‘bicycle’.

The EC had told both the sides that a judgment will be delivered before the process of filing nominations for the phase one of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections will begin on January 17.

 

Akhilesh camp had argued that since the numbers are stacked in favour of the CM, the symbol should go to him.

Earlier, the ongoing political tussle between Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh Yadav escalated to a new level with the Samajwadi Party president alleging that Akhilesh is against the Muslims.

Extremely upset with the ongoing friction in the Samajwadi Party, Mulayam alleged that his son was always against the appointment of a Muslim Director General of Police (DGP) in Uttar Pradesh.

“Akhilesh attempted to wipe out the Muslims. It was on my urge that three constables from the Muslim community were appointed in the police force,” said Mulayam while addressing the party workers in Lucknow.

Mulayam, in a fit of anger, also alleged that his son was acting at the behest of his uncle Ram Gopal Yadav.

“My son does not listen to me. He works on the instructions of Ram Gopal,” he said.

Expressing disappointment over the ongoing tussle in the Samajwadi Party, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also said that he attempted to bring his son on board several times but added that the latter never listened to his views.

“I am trying my best to save the party and cycle. And if he (Akhilesh) doesn’t listen then I will fight against him,” he said.

Mulayam further said that he would abide by whatever decision the Election Commission takes.

The Election Commission is likely to give an interim order on 16 January regarding the Samajwadi Party factions, i.e. of Mulayam and the other of Akhilesh, staking claims over the party symbol cycle.

The three-member poll body, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi, earlier on Friday heard the arguments put forward by the two factions.

The political tussle began when Akhilesh was announced as the Samajwadi Partys president at a national convention convened by Ram Gopal on 1 January.

At the same convention, Mulayam was made the party patron.

This is when the matter reached the Election Commissions office, with Mulayam conveying that he continues to be the party president and that the party symbol should remain with his faction.

In response to this, Akhilesh’s faction also approached the Election Commission claiming that the majority rested with their faction and so his group was entitled to get the symbol.

Former solicitor general Mohan Parasaran, appearing for Mulayam, argued the contention of any split in the party and stressed that the symbol should remain with the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

Countering Parasaran’s arguments, Kapil Sibal appearing from Akhilesh’s side said that if the formers argument was to be accepted then there was no need of hearing at all.

He further said that the party had split vertically and that majority was with Akhilesh.

As per sources, the Commission is likely to come out with an interim order freezing the symbol, owing to less time left for the elections.

In this case, the two sides would be allowed to pick up symbols from the free available symbols in the state.