Akhilesh, Mulayam Camps Scamper to Muster Support to Claim ‘Cycle’

Akhilesh Yadav reportedly told his supporters in a meeting that the party’s ‘cycle’ symbol will be theirs.

SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav left for Delhi on Thursday to furnish details of the support of legislators for his faction to the EC in his effort to retain the 'cycle' poll symbol.

The camp led by his son Akhilesh, meanwhile, met loyalists in Lucknow to collect signed affidavits to present to the poll body in a day or two to also claim the party symbol, sources said.

An NDTV report said that Akhilesh's camp claims to have the support of 214 lawmakers. The Chief Minister also reportedly told his supporters in the meeting that the party's 'cycle' symbol will be theirs.

Giving ample indications that he was not in a mood to climb down, a defiant Akhilesh said, "We are going for polls... We will return again."

The Election Commission has initiated the process for the two warring factions of the Samajwadi Party – one led by Mulayam and the other by Akhilesh – to prove their majority for getting the party symbol. In the 404-member UP Assembly, SP has 229 MLAs.

Both factions will have to prove the number of MLAs, MPs and MLCs supporting them through signed affidavits.

At the 'national convention' of the SP convened by Ram Gopal Yadav on January 1, over 200 of the 229 MLAs had turned up, besides a large number of MLCs, MPs, senior party leaders and office-bearers.

(With inputs from PTI and NDTV)