Source: indianexpress
After hearing long arguments between Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and son Akhilesh Yadav, the Election Commission (EC) reserved its order on the Party’s symbol ‘bicycle’ on Friday. Although both the party claims that there is unity among them, Mulayam Singh Yadav said he was in no mood to pass away the control of the party.
UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had declared himself the SP’s national president on January 1, and assigned margdarshak’s role to his father Mulayam Singh. “I am anyway the margdarshak of the party,” Mulayam said on Friday, while upholding that he was still the SP’s chief.
The EC heard the two loudmouthed factions and expected to declare its order by January 17. Throughout the six-hour long hearing, both the factions staked their claim to the symbol. While Congress leader and lawyer Kapil Sibal represented Akhilesh’s side, former Solicitor-General of India Mohan Parasaran headed the squad signifying Mulayam Singh Yadav’s side.
SP Rajya Sabha MPs Ram Gopal Yadav and Naresh Agrawal were present at the hearing from CM’s camp. Mulayam Singh Yadav accompanied by his brother Shivpal Yadav appealed their case.