NEW DELHI: The ball is now in the election commission’s court on who would get the symbol ‘cycle’ that belongs to Samajwadi party. A day after Mulayam Singh approached the election commission, Ram Gopal Yadav reached Delhi on Tuesday to stake a claim on the party symbol.
After pleading the case of UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to the election commission on Tuesday afternoon, Ram Gopal Yadav said "We have said to the election commission that 90 per cent of MLAs are supporting Akhilesh Yadav ji and hence party led by him must be considered as SP."
Meanwhile, Mulayam’s supporters insisted on Tuesday that last Saturday's expulsion of Akhilesh and Ram Gopal was never revoked on paper, and was conditional upon Akhilesh not holding a convention. Because of these two reasons, Akhilesh and Ram Gopal are technically still disqualified. They also argued that because of this Mulayam is the real owner of the party and symbol should go with him.
However, officials said that the poll panel will look into the facts and documents submitted by both the sides and any decision can be taken only after that. “It may freeze the original symbol and issue new symbols to both the factions,” said an official.
Ram Gopal Yadav, cousin of Mulayam Singh Yadav has been standing firm behind Akhilesh. He has been considered as one of key decision makers of the party.
Akhilesh on Sunday at an emergency national convention appointed himself as the national party president removing his father Mulayam Singh from the post. He also replaced state unit chief Shivpal Singh Yadav and expelled Amar Singh who had to cut short his London tour to reach Delhi. However, the convention was declared illegal and unconstitutional by Mulayam Singh.
After the conclusion of the special national convention on Sunday, Ramgopal Yadav, dispatched a letter to the EC intimating it about the election of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav as the new national president of the party.