The warring factions of Samajwadi Party (SP) will appear before the Election Commission of India on January 13, to explain their stand to retain the party symbol. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday fixed January 13 as the date of hearing the Samajwadi Party factions led by Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav to settle the dispute over control of the party and its election symbol, ‘cycle’. Notices are being sent to both factions for the January 13 hearing. The battle of cycle symbol is a major controversy that needs to be decided at the earliest.
The faction led Akhilesh, Ramgopal Yadav and Naresh Aggarwal is trying hard to retain the party symbol with strong claims and annextures attached with its application. The Akhilesh camp has submitted affidavits signed by SP MPs, MlAs, MlCs and delegates supporting Chief Minister Akhilesh. The other side led by Mulayam Singh Yadav-Shivpal Yadav and Amar Singh who is also making their claims saying that Mulayam has founded the party 25 years ago and as per the party's constitution, he is still the party president.
Sources in ECI said that the Commission has asked both Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav to appear before it for hearing on January 13. Sources said that the Commission wants to settle the matter before January 17 when the process of nomination begins for the first phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh to be held on February 11, provided the two sides proceed accordingly.
The Mulayam-led faction has also claimed the affidavits submitted by the Akhilesh camp have been forged and that the poll panel should get them verified before proceeding.
The Akhilesh camp had earlier urged the Commission to decide on the matter at the earliest as the nomination process will begin Tuesday next.
The 'cycle' symbol faces the threat of being frozen before the seven-phase Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls if the Election Commission is not able to decide which of the two factions of the party commands majority in the organisation.The side which has the support of majority (50 per cent plus 1) of MPs, MlAs, MlCs and delegates will gain an upper hand in the fight to control the party founded 25 years ago.
Candidates from Mulayam and Akhilesh camps cannot fight election on 'cycle' symbol at the same time, therefore, the EC will have to take a call on the issue before the filing of nominations begins.