As both party factions await the EC’s decision on who gets the cycle symbol for the elections, Mulayam Singh Yadav asserts himself; also claims the special national convention was illegal
Shivpal Yadav, Amar Singh and Mulayam u00c2u0088Singh Yadav at a press conference yesterday. Pic/PTI
New Delhi: Questioning the legality of the convention which ousted him as president and appointed his son Akhilesh in his place, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav yesterday asserted he was still the party chief.
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He claimed the special national convention called by his cousin Ramgopal Yadav on January 1 in Lucknow was “illegal” as he as party president had already expelled him from the party on December 30.
“I am the national president of Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav is (only) the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Shivpal Yadav is still the president of Samajwadi Party's Uttar Pradesh unit,” Mulayam, who is locked in a bitter feud with Akhilesh-Ramgopal camp for control over the party, told reporters here. “Ramgopal Yadav was expelled from the party for six years on 30 December, 2016. Therefore the party's national convention called by him on 1 January, 2017 was illegal," he asserted.
SP symbol may be frozen
The cycle, the symbol of Samajwadi Party, faces the threat of being frozen before the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls if the Election Commission is not able to decide which of the two factions of the party commands majority in the organisation.
After the split in the party last week, the factions led by Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh had approached the Commission staking claim over the party and the symbol.
Both sides had also submitted some documents to further their claim and the Commission has given them time till Monday to provide signed affidavits of legislators and office bearers to claim control over the party's name and symbol. Today is the deadline set by EC for both sides to submit documents before it decides which faction has genuine claim. The side which has the support of majority (50 per cent plus 1) MPs, MLAs, MLCs and delegates will gain the upper hand in the fight to control the party founded 25 years ago.
The EC, sources said, will have to decide on who commands the majority in SP before January 17 when the notification for the first phase of assembly polls is issued. The election for phase one is on February 2.
BSP announces final candidates list
BSP yesterday announced candidates for 101 Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, completing the exercise for all but two of the 403 constituencies, fielding 12 more Muslim candidates this time to ensure Dalit-Muslim consolidation in a bid to wrest power from Samajwadi Party.
Candidates for the two remaining seats in Sonebhadra district will be finalised after a decision is taken as to whether they are general or reserved for ST, BSP said in a release.
Out of the 403 seats up for grabs, BSP had prepared a final list comprising 97 Muslim candidates (12 more than 2012), 87 Dalits and 106 OBCs, besides earmarking 113 seats for upper castes. Since Muslims account for nearly 20 per cent of the voters, Mayawati decided to field more candidates of that community, playing her Dalit-Muslim consolidation card to come back to power.
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