AMN
Further aggravating the situation in Samajwadi Party, party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav today asserted that he was still the party’s national president. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Mr. Yadav said the national convention called by Ramgopal Yadav on 1st of this month where Akhilesh Yadav was made party chief, was illegal.
He said Ramgopal Yadav was expelled from the party on 30th of December and he had no right to call a convention. He also said Akhilesh Yadav is the Chief Minister of UP and Shivpal Yadav is the state President. Mulayam Singh Yadav is expected to meet Election Commission tomorrow to stake claim over party’s cycle symbol.
Earlier after reaching national capital this afternoon, Mulayam Singh Yadav held a meeting with Shivpal and party MP Amar Singh at his residence.
Yesterday, Akhilesh Yadav faction of Samajwadi Party approached the Election Commission staking claim over the cycle symbol.
The poll body has sought response from both factions by 9th of this month over the contest of symbol and name of the party.
Samajwadi Party seems to be heading towards a vertical split which some old loyalists were trying to prevent at any cost. Rounds of parleys, the coaxing, persuading and cajoling to both groups seem to have gone down the drain along with the hopes of unity.
Earlier today Mulayam Singh visited Party HQs at Lucknow where he offered party workers good wishes for the new year and said that everything will be alright soon. He also asked them to go in the constituencies and work for party.
In a surprising move, one of his close aides locked the several rooms of Party office and Mulayam took the keys and went away. Mulayam team may meet Election Commission soon to present its side as Ram Gopal Yadav has already met the ECI and made its claim over party and its poll symbol ‘Cycle’.