The Election Commission has reserved its orders on the fight between both factions of Samajwadi Party on its symbol, the ‘cycle’.
The panel heard representatives from both camps. While party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav was himself present during the hearing, the faction owing alleigance to his son and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was represented by Rajya Sabha MPs Ramgopal Yadav and Naresh Agarwal.
A leader from the Akhilesh camp told
Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan and Congress leader Kapil Sibal appeared for Akhilesh. Citing precedence, they told the Commission’s panel that the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister enjoys the support of the majority of party’s legislators in the State and in Parliament.
Senior advocate Mohan Parashar, who appeared for Mulayam, claimed that the national convention presided over by MP Kiranmoy Nanda had passed no resolution removing the former from the post of SP National President. Parashar argued that there was no vertical split in the SP and no other faction could claim the symbol.
The Akhilesh camp, however, contested this and also cited a letter by Amar Singh to the panel, which used the term ‘splinter group’ to describe the Chief Minister’s faction.
Meanwhile, back-channel negotiations are still on to pacify warring factions, and most party leaders believe the family will reach a consensus on candidates and symbol at the earliest.