Who will take the ‘cycle’ home? Akhilesh, Mulayam to reply to EC by Jan 9

In Akhilesh vs Mulayam war, Samajwadi Party’s ‘cycle’ may be seized. The EC has asked both of them to respond to the petition filed.

By: News Desk |
January 5, 2017 10:52 am

Amid the ongoing between the Samajwadi Party, the Election Commission has reportedly asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav to reply on each other’s petitions filed before it claiming party’s ‘cycle’ symbol.

According to reports, both of them have been asked to respond to each other’s petition by January 9.

EC asks Akhilesh Yadav&Mulayam Singh Yadav to reply by 9 Jan on each other’s petitions filed before it claiming party&poll symbol:EC sources

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 5, 2017

The ongoing feud in the Yadav clan in Samajwadi Party went up by several notches after Mulayam Singh Yadav was replaced by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav as the party president. The decision was taken at a hurriedly called “emergency convention” of the party.

Also Read: In Akhilesh vs Mulayam war, Samajwadi Party’s ‘cycle’ may be seized

While the two factions continue to battle it out, the party symbol ‘cycle’ is likely to be frozen. Akhilesh camp even approached the Election Commission’s office to stake a claim to the Samajwadi Party’s symbol. As per the party’s constitution, the president of the party allots symbols in an election.

If Akhilesh stakes a claim, the commission will have to give a notice to the Mulayam faction to hear the other side of the story before taking the final decision. If no decision can be taken, the EC may exercise the option of freezing the ‘cycle.

“Cycle symbol is ours,” Mulayam had asserted. “No one can accuse me of wrongdoing. I have never indulged in corruption or betrayed anyone. Cycle symbol is ours,” he said.

Akhilesh has maintained that he had to take the tough decision to protect his loved ones. “Sometimes to protect the ones you love you must make the right decision. What I did today was a tough decision but one that I had to take,” he tweeted on Sunday.