Amid ongoing war between two factions in the ruling Samajwadi Party of Uttar Pradesh, Ram Gopal Yadav on Tuesday told the Election Commission (EC) that the party led by Akhilesh Yadav was the real Samajwadi Party.
The faction headed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav approached the EC to assert their right over the cycle symbol, which is crucial for the upcoming assembly elections in the state.
Ram Gopal Yadav also told the EC that 90% of the party’s members were with them.
The rift between SP pariwar reached the Election Commission with Mulayam Singh Yadav staking claim over the ‘cycle’ symbol a day after he was deposed from the post of party president by the group led by his son Akhilesh.
Mulayam also cancelled the January 5 national convention called by him, apparently on fears that there could be a low turnout compared to the convention held by his son in Lucknow on Sunday.
Election Commission sources said it is unlikely to intervene till it hears from both the sides.
“I am still the president of Samajwadi Party and the decision of the rival camp to appoint Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav as the party chief is against party’s constitution,” Mulayam told the Election Commission.
The Commission could ask both sides to pick a new party name and symbol in the interim if the existing symbol ‘cycle’ is frozen.
Source: dnaindia.com