New Delhi/Lucknow: With the prospect of the Election Commission freezing the Samajwadi Party’s “bicycle” symbol looming large, both father Mulayam Singh Yadav and son Akhilesh Yadav, who are locked in a bitter fight over the control of the party, have a Plan B ready.
The EC is expected to adhere to the precedent set during the split in Uttarakhnad Kranti Dal in 2011, sources said. The EC had frozen the symbol (chair) and had asked both factions to contest on fresh symbols.
With filing of nominations for the first phase of assembly polls drawing closer, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday asked his ministers and legislators not to worry about tickets as he finetuned with his close aides Samajwadi Party’s strategy.
As his father and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and warring uncle Mr Shivpal camped in New Delhi, Mr Akhilesh remained closeted with his confidants at his 5 Kalidas Marg official residence to discuss the poll scenario. “Don't get trapped in the symbol dispute. It is before EC and will get resolved,” he told party workers.
Party insiders said Mr Akhilesh was working on a new list of candidates, keeping out those facing criminal charges and accommodating deserving aspirants.
They said former ministers Narad Rai, Om Prakash Singh, Shahdab Fatima and Ambika Chaudhary might find place in the new list along with Arvind Singh Gope and Ram Govind Chaudhary.
Likewise, some tainted nominees, including Atiq Ahmed, Mukhtar Ansari’s brother Sibghatullah, and Amanmani Tripathi, son of a murder convict, given ticket by Mulayam and Shivpal could be dropped.
While Atiq is a politician with criminal background, Ansari is gangster-turned-politician heading the Qaumi Ekta Dal, whose merger with SP was strongly opposed by Akhilesh, before he had to give in to pressure from Mulayam.
It may be recalled that Mr Mulayam had announced candidates for all but eight of the 403 Assembly seats on December 30. Later the Akhilesh camp had circulated through social media an unsigned list of 250 candidates.
