Akhilesh Wins SP’s ‘Cycle’ Symbol: Timeline of Events

Here’s a look at the events in the family feud over the past months.

The Yadav Pari-War saga saw another twist, intensifying the crisis within the Samajwadi Party after the Election Commission on Monday announced its decision to grant the disputed ‘cycle’ symbol of the Samajwadi Party to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.

The decision comes less than a month before the staggered Uttar Pradesh assembly election starts on 11 February and was first announced by Akhilesh confidante Ram Gopal Yadav.

The decision has triggered wild celebrations among Akhilesh supporters in Lucknow, where the Chief Minister immediately headed to the house of his father and party founder Mulayam Singh.

Mulayam Singh, who has lost the support of the majority in the party, had been desperate to hold on to the symbol which he picked long ago.

The intra-party feud has caused a ruckus in the last few months. Here’s a complete rundown.

Also Read: Live: Akhilesh Wins ‘Cycle’, Ramgopal Hints at SP-Cong Alliance

14 August 2016: Shivpal Yadav threatens to resign, citing officers ignoring him and the rise in land grab cases in the state, at a congregation in Mainpuri.

15 August 2016: Mulayam Singh Yadav backs brother Shivpal, warns that if he leaves party, it will be divided.

12 September 2016: Akhilesh sacks two of his controversial ministers, Gayatri Prasad Prajapati and Raj Kishore Singh, over corruption charges.

13 September 2016: Patriarch Mulayam Singh appoints brother Shivpal Yadav as the state unit chief, replacing Akhilesh Yadav.

13 September 2016: Akhilesh strips his uncle Shivpal Yadav of three key ministries.

13 September 2016: Akhilesh removes Chief Secretary Deepak Singhal, considered close to Shivpal, and whose appointment to the post was influenced by Amar Singh.

15 September 2016: Mulayam Yadav meets Akhilesh and Shivpal separately to resolve the situation.

17 September 2016: After meeting with uncle Shivpal, Akhilesh Yadav says no rift in Samajwadi Party.

18 September 2016: All of Shivpal’s previous and powerful ministries are returned to him.

19 September 2016: Shivpal as state party President expels seven Akhilesh loyalists from the party.

26 September 2016: Gayatri Prajapati is re-inducted during expansion of CM Akhilesh's cabinet.

26 September 2016: Akhilesh openly supports the SP’s youth leaders expelled by Shivpal Yadav and calls on “experienced leaders” to reconsider the decision.

3 October 2016: Shivpal names murder accused Amanmani Tripathi as SP candidate, and it doesn’t go down well with Akhilesh.

3 October 2016: Akhilesh left red-faced after Shivpal Yadav announces the merger of Mukhtar Ansari’s Quami Ekta Dal with the SP.

13 October 2016: Akhilesh in an interview says given party’s present state, he may have to single-handedly start campaigning for the 2017 polls.

14 October 2016: Mulayam says CM candidate will be decided by MLAs after polls.

23 October 2016: Akhilesh sacks his uncle Shivpal Yadav, along with three other ministers.

23 October 2016: Shivpal Yadav expels General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav.

17 November 2016: Mulayam Singh revokes the expulsion of Ram Gopal – weeks after he was expelled for six years – after he publicly sided with Akhilesh.

25 December 2016: Akhilesh submits his own list of 403 probable candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections.

28 December 2016: Mulayam snubs Akhilesh and announces candidates for 325 of the 403 Assembly seats.

29 December 2016: Akhilesh revolts and releases his own list of 235 candidates, a day after Mulayam released the official list.

30 December 2016: Mulayam issues a showcause notice to Akhilesh and Ram Gopal Yadav for indiscipline over parallel list of candidates for UP polls. Later, Mulayam expels Akhilesh and Ram Gopal from the party for six years for indiscipline.

1 January 2017: The Samajwadi Party formally split after Ramgopal calls emergency national convention’ and the Akhilesh faction ousts Mulayam Singh as its President.

2 January 2017: Mulayam and Akhilesh camp approach Election Commission over the issue. EC asks both camps to file affadavits to support their claims on the party and its symbol.

9 January 2017: Realising the urgency of the matter, the Election Commission fixes an urgent hearing for 13 January.

13 January 2017: Election Commission hears both the parties. However, it reserves its decision on the matter.

16 January 2017: The Election Commission accepts the faction led by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav as the Samajwadi Party and allots it the 'cycle' symbol, dealing a huge blow to Mulayam Singh Yadav.