Advantage Akhilesh as party stands by him

A day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was named President of the Samajwadi Party (SP) replacing his father Mulayam Singh Yadav, both factions claimed to be representing the ‘real party’.

While a delegation led by Mulayam and his brother Shivpal Yadav told the Election Commission that the ‘cycle’ belonged to them, the other group, apparently with numbers on their side, has also staked claim for the symbol. “The majority of the MLAs, MLCs and MPs are with us. Some irritants outside the family are using the ill-health of Netaji for their personal benefits and vested interests. They are acting on the behest of the party’s enemies,” a top SP leader told BusinessLine from Lucknow.

He also indicated that there were efforts to get the family members to sit together and resolve the problems amicably. “Blood is thicker than water. Do not be surprised if we resolve everything very soon. Every member in the family is for talks. The spoilsports are those outside the family. They see a political future only if the party is not united,” he added.

The SP leadership is also hoping that as soon as the dates for the Assembly elections are announced, most likely on Wednesday, there may be further rounds of talks between the family members. “Shivpal Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav and Ramgopal Yadav are ready to sit together and talks. The younger generation in the family is also initiating informal dialogue,” another party source said.

What has surprised the faction backing Mulayam is the brutal majority that Akhilesh enjoys within the party. Almost all Parliamentary Board members, and more than 90 per cent of the MLAs, MLCs and MPs are with the Chief Minister. “After the 2014 national convention, they have not called even a single meeting of the Executive Committee. This itself is a violation of the party’s Constitution and Ramgopal Yadav had every right to convene a convention as the General Secretary of the party,” a leader from Akhilesh’s camp said.

The Mulayam-Shivpal camp argues that the right to convene a special convention rests with the party President. “Only Mulayam can convene such a convention. They have violated all legal procedures...they cannot claim the symbol,” a leader of the faction told BusinessLine .

Meanwhile, Shivpal deferred Thursday’s party convention called by Mulayam in Lucknow. He did not give any reasons for the cancellation. However, it is being interpreted that the cancellation followed fears of lower turnout than Sunday’s meeting convened by Ramgopal.

COMMENT NOW