Lucknow: The ongoing dispute in the ruling Samajwadi Party, seem heading for a reconciliation after father Mulayam Singh Yadav and his rebel Chief Minister son Akhilesh Yadav met here this morning for 90 minutes, but by evening, all efforts went in vain and there was no move seen for any compromise. Now, all eyes are on the verdict of the Election Commission, expected by January 13, when it will decide about the election symbol cycle, claimed by both the factions. In the latest move, the Akhilesh faction announced three candidates for the biennial elections to the five teachers and graduate constituencies of the state legislative council, thus closing the gate for any reconciliation to the month-long dispute, which has also been termed as 'stage-managed' or 'fixed' by some quarters.
The announcement was made by Naresh Uttam, state president of the Akhilesh group, who said that approval for the names was given by party's national president Akhlesh Yadav. The notification for the five biennial polls was issued here today. The Akhilesh faction has announced Ramveer Singh Yadav candidate from Kanpur-Unnao teachers seat, Ashok Singh Rathore from Allahabad- Jhansi teachers constituency and Kumar Renu Mishra from Bareilly-Moradabad graduate constituency. Meanwhile, another reports said that Akhilesh faction is likely to fix the deal with the Congress tomorrow in New Delhi. Congress is holding its AICC session in New Delhi tomorrow, where the party would discuss on the elections in the five states, including UP. Earlier Mulayam and Akhilesh today met for the first time after both factions went to the Election Commission to stake claim on the party and election symbol.
However, this meeting ended without any results and both sides were rigid on their stand. The meeting took place at the residence of Mulayam at 5 Vikramaditya Marg, where Akhilesh went to meet his father from the adjoining 4 Vikramaditya Marg bungalow at around 1040 hrs. The meeting went on for 90 minutes where the father-son met one-on-one without any interruption. This was the second meeting between the father and the son after Akhilesh made a coup and took over the reigns of the party at an emergency delegate meeting here on January 1. The last meeting was held on January 3 for around three-and-a-half hours but it did not yield any result. After today's meeting, the CM went to his residence from inside gate between the two bungalows and then went to his official residence 5, Kalidas Marg. While coming out from his residence, Akhilesh only waved his hands to give an impression to his supporters that all is well in the party but refused to speak to the media.
Akhilesh has conveyed to his supporters to go to their respective assembly constituencies and campaign, while adding that he will release programme of his campaign very soon. There is also a report that Akhilesh could release his remaining candidates list tomorrow. He had already released a list of 235 candidates after his father released 393 candidates on December 30. However, sources in the party hinted that during the meeting Mulayam has asked Akhilesh to withdraw letter from EC while emphasising that he will remain head of poll setup with Akhilesh to command the campaign and distribute the assembly tickets in the party. "Mulayam Singh Yadav also assured his son Akhilesh in the meeting that he will be the CM's face in UP and Mulayam will remain party president," sources said.
The meeting between the father and son comes after Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam extending an olive branch to warring faction last night with declaring that Akhilesh Yadav would be the Chief Ministerial face of the party in the forthcoming assembly election. However, Prof Ram Gopal Yadav too in New Delhi today demanded that the Mulayam faction should also withdraw their petition from the ECI for an amicable solution. Last night, Mulayam announced Akhilesh as the CM face of the party after he had met officials in Election Commission in New Delhi and had claimed his right over Samajwadi Party’s election symbol `cycle’. “I want to make it clear that Akhilesh Yadav would be the next Chief Minister of the state,” he said to a private news channel immediately after his hour-long meeting with Shivpal Singh Yadav and tainted minister Gayatri Prajapati after his return from New Delhi last night.
Declaring that Chief Ministerial candidate was one of the bones of contention in the feud between the father and son, Mulayam Singh had earlier refused to project Akhilesh as CM face and claimed that legislature party will elect a new CM. He even said that he himself was elected CM by legislature party. The shift came on Monday evening, when Mr Mulayam clarified that now, Akhilesh would be the Chief Ministerial candidate. Uttar Pradesh will go to polls in seven phases, between February 11 and March 8 .(UNI)
