In a bid to unite the warring factions in the Samajwadi Party, senior party leader Azam Khan today mediated a phone conversation between Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.
According to reports, soon after the phone call, the young UP CM reached his father’s residence to meet him. The big development comes after both Mulayam and Akhilesh camp staked claim for SP election symbol cycle at the Election Commission in New Delhi.
Accompanied by Shivpal Yadav, Amar Singh and Jaya Prada, Mulayam Singh had met EC officials on January 2 to stake claim on ‘cycle’.
Party general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Ram Gopal Yadav today met EC officials to submit Akhilesh’s claim as the new national president of the party. It is unlikely that the EC would be able to resolve the dispute in time for UP elections.
However, the panel may, in the interim, freeze the party symbol and provide ad-hoc recognition to the two factions under names similar to the parent party.
Is the UP CM avoiding further confrontation?
Akhilesh had earlier given signals of him being ready for patch up with his father. The Akhilesh Yadav camp in the Samajwadi Party has claimed that it has the support of 90 per cent of the party’s members.
Reportedly, Akhilesh’s supporters in the party claim that they are not unduly worried about the prospect of the EC freezing the party’s cycle symbol.
(Courtesy: YouTube/Aaj Tak)
MLC Rajpal Kashyap said that over 90 per cent of the delegates put their signatures on the proposals taken up at the national convention called by Ram Gopal Yadav, including on Akhilesh’s appointment as the party chief.
“We will keep the cycle as our symbol. But let it be known that Akhilesh himself is the symbol of the election,” he added.
With such an immense support, it is believed that Akhilesh is keen to avoid further confrontation, now that the party leadership is in his hands.
Azam Khan playing the role of peacemaker?
Ever since the family feud came out in the public, Azam Khan has remained neutral. Azam had on December 31 also played the role of a peacemaker after he convinced Mulayam to bring back Akhilesh in the Samajwadi Party. On Friday night the SP supremo had expelled his son Akhilesh and cousin Ram Gopal Yadav from the party for six years.
Also read: SP leader Kiranmoy Nanda claims Mulayam’s signature are forged
Today Azam mediated a phone conversation between Akhilesh and Mulayam, following which speculations are rife that the conversation between the father-son duo prompted Akhilesh to visit his father and that soon they’ll patch up keeping aside their differences.
