Supporters of Akhilesh Yadav, who was declared Samajwadi Party chief, claim the party symbol cycle (File)
Highlights
- UP chief minister was named Samajwadi Party chief by supporters today
- Akhilesh supporters expected to meet Election Commission on Monday
- Move latest in year-long power tussle between Akhilesh and father Mulayam
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's faction is likely to stake claim to the party's election symbol after his coup at the Lucknow convention, where he was named the chief of Samajwadi Party by 5,000 supporters in place of his father Mulayam Singh Yadav. Sources said his supporters would meet the Election Commission on Monday - three days before the national convention of the party called by Mulayam Singh Yadav, whose supporters are also likely to claim the party symbol. Yadav Senior dismissed Sunday morning's convention and termed its resolution declaring his son the party chief as "illegal" and "unconstitutional".
Here are the latest developments in this big story:
Sources said senior ministers of the Akhilesh Yadav camp will tell the Election Commission that the Chief Minister controls the Samajwadi Party and cite documents as proof. Mulayam Singh will meet Shivpal Yadav and Amar Singh in Delhi on Monday and they are also likely to claim the party symbol, sources said.
Since assembly elections are close, the Election Commission is likely to take time to come to a decision. Till it does, the Samajwadi Party's poll symbol, the cycle, can be frozen by the Commission, sources said.
Late on Sunday night, Akhilesh Yadav tweeted, "Sometimes to protect the ones you love you must make the right decision. What I did today was a tough decision but one that I had to take".
The power tussle within the party boiled over on Sunday morning- a 5,000-strong gathering deposed Akhilesh Yadav's uncle Shivpal Yadav from the post of the party's state chief and "sacked" politician Amar Singh. Mulayam Singh, announced his cousin and Akhilesh Yadav's close lieutenant Ram Gopal Yadav, should act as the party's "mentor".
In his address - punctuated with slogans of "Jai Akhilesh" from his supporters - Akhilesh Yadav said, "The whole country should understand that I will respect Netaji (Mulayam Singh) more than ever...if people are conspiring against Netaji it is my duty to act against them."
In a letter, Mulayam Singh called the convention "unconstitutional" and expelled Ram Gopal Yadav for organising it and party vice-president Kiranmay Nanda for attending it. There was talk of expelling Naresh Aggarwal, who was named the chief of the party's state unit by the Akhilesh Yadav faction, but no formal notification has been sent.
In the afternoon, slogan-shouting supporters of Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav almost came to blows while trying to take control of the party office in Lucknow. The Shivpal Yadav camp alleged that the Chief Minister has ordered the police and paramilitary forces to seize the office.
On Friday, Mulayam Singh had expelled Akhilesh Yadav for refusing to accept the candidates chosen for the coming elections in Uttar Pradesh and issuing a parallel list of 235 of his own candidates.
Mulayam Singh's list had not only left out leaders close to Akhilesh Yadav, it also included candidates with criminal backgrounds - recommended by Shivpal Yadav - despite vehement opposition from the Chief Minister.
The expulsion was revoked within 24 hours on Saturday following advice from senior leader Azam Khan.
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