‘Cycle Chalti Jayegi’, Akhilesh Tweets After Victory
D-Day for Akhilesh and Mulayam Yadav’s factions.
.jpg?rect=0%2C0%2C2000%2C1125)
- EC verdict gives party president Akhilesh Yadav the SP ‘cycle’ symbol
- Mulayam supporters are expected to move the court over EC decision
- Both SP supremo Mulayam Singh’s and Akhilesh Yadav’s factions argued before the EC on Friday to stake claim over the ‘cycle’ symbol
'Cycle Chalti Jayegi'
After his victory in the battle over the SP symbol, UP CM Akhilesh tweeted saying, “Cycle will keep moving ahead”.
Akhilesh Goes to Meet Mulayam After 'Cycle' Victory
Akhilesh met his father Mulayam after the victory and took his blessings, sources said.
CNN News 18 quoted Akhilesh as saying:
Watch what Akhilesh’s lawyer, Kapil Sibal has to say about the EC verdict:
Akhilesh Wins SP’s ‘Cycle’ Symbol: A Timeline of Events
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.
The intra-party feud has caused a ruckus in the last few months. Here’s a complete rundown.
14 August 2016: Shivpal Yadav threatens to resign, citing officers ignoring him and the rise in land grab cases in the state, at a congregation in Mainpuri.
15 August 2016: Mulayam Singh Yadav backs brother Shivpal, warns that if he leaves party, it will be divided.
12 September 2016: Akhilesh sacks two of his controversial ministers, Gayatri Prasad Prajapati and Raj Kishore Singh, over corruption charges.
Read the full story on The Quint.
RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and TMC Chief congratulated Akhilesh over his victory.
Supporters of Mulayam are expected to move the court to appeal against the Election Commission’s decision, CNN News 18 reported.
Mulayam aide and SP spokesperson CP Rai said:
Ramgopal Yadav Lauds EC Decision
Supporter of the Akhilesh-led faction of the Samajwadi Party, Ramgopal Yadav congratulated the SP leaders and urged the people of Uttar Pradesh to re-elect Mulayam Singh’s son as the Chief Minister for another term.
When asked about the possibility of an alliance with the Congress, he said:
In a separate interview, Congress leader, Sheila Dikshit said she is ready to step away as Congress’ candidate for UP election, if Congress decides to go with an alliance with Akhilesh-led Samajwadi Party.
An announcement on the SP-Congress alliance will likely be made in two days’ time and talks on the alliance is reportedly in its final stages, sources told CNN News 18.
Akhilesh Rides the ‘Cycle’
In a blow to SP supremo, Mulayam Yadav, the Election Commission acknowledged Akhilesh as the party president and announced that the symbol belongs to Akhilesh-led Samajwadi Party.
In its verdict the EC said that Mulayam Singh did not file a single affidavit.
Whereas, Akhilesh faction submitted individual affidavits from 28 members of National Executive of the party, 15 MPs, 205 MLAs and 56 MLCs.
Nameplate Saying 'Akhilesh Yadav, National President' Placed at SP Office
Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav’s nameplate as the national party president has been placed below Mulayam Singh’s nameplate of the same designation at the SP office in Lucknow .
Will Accept EC's Decision: MSY
Ahead of the EC’s verdict, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is interacting with his supporters at the Samajwadi Party office in Lucknow on Monday.
He says that the party will accept the decision of the EC.
Hinting at his efforts to speak to Akhilesh, he says: “I called Akhilesh thrice. He came for a minute and left before I could say something.”
“I am trying my best to save the party and the ‘cycle’, if he (Akhilesh) doesn't listen, I will fight against him,” Mulayam Singh Yadav says.
He even alleges that Akhilesh was against the appointment of a Muslim Director General of Police in the state.
Akhilesh to Float New Party Or Call A Truce?
As the ‘symbol war’ wages on, there are various possibilities that will affect the political scenario in the poll-bound state of Uttar Pradesh.
- If Akhilesh’s camp loses the ‘cycle’ symbol, he will have to surrender his right to distribute party tickets and make efforts to reconcile with his father and SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav.
- Risking ouster from the upcoming elections, Akhilesh could also float a new party with a symbol that his faction would pick. The EC can allot a new symbol immediately, but only if it is available. Reports suggest that Akhilesh has zeroed in on the ‘motorcycle’.
- Sources suggest that Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya) chief Kamal Murarka had offered the party symbol to Akhilesh, which he may opt for.
- Whatever the outcome, speculations are rife that the Akhilesh Yadav faction is inching towards an alliance with the Congress and Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal. He may also field candidates from the Congress as well as rely on Independent candidates.
SP's Tug-Of-War
The Election Commission is likely to pronounce its verdict on the Samajwadi Party’s ‘cycle’ symbol on Monday.
Both SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh Yadav’s camps have been at loggerheads over the party symbol ever since the internal conflict over the post of the party’s president refuses to subside.
The two factions argued before a three-member poll body headed by Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi on Friday to stake claim over the ‘cycle’ election symbol.
Appearing for Akhilesh Yadav, senior counsels Rajeev Dhavan and Kapil Sibal argued that majority of the MPs, MLAs, MLACs and party delegates are with the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.
Senior advocate and former solicitor general Mohan Parasaran, representing Mulayam’s faction, said since there is “no vertical split in the party” – such as SP (Mulayam) and SP (Akhilesh) – the Commission lacks jurisdiction to allocate symbol to one of the groups.
Though no one argued for freezing the symbol, it is one of the options available with the Commission, Akhilesh’s counsel Dhavan had informed.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)