NEW DELHI: Election commission could freeze the symbol ‘Cycle’ and allow new symbols to both the factions of Samajwadi Party. Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday reached the EC to submit affidavits of his supporters claiming ownership over the party and symbol.
EC officials claimed that it would take a long time to look into the documents submitted by both the factions and the EC is hardly left with any option but to freeze the existing Cycle symbol.
Earlier, Ram Gopal Yadav had submitted documents claiming support of SP lawmakers to Akhilesh Yadav and officials claimed that the documents were brought in six—seven large size bags. “Going through all the affidavits will take at least three months,” said an official. Even, Ram Gopal had also claimed that the documents submitted to the EC ran into over 1.5 lakh pages and bore signatures of over 200 MLAs, 56 of the 68 MLCs, 15 of the 24 MPs and nearly 4,600 of over 5,000 delegates.
Mulayam said he has no dispute with his son and UP CM Akhilesh Yadav, and that they would sort out problems. "There is no dispute between my son and I. There is some problem in the party, one person is behind this feud; I am sure that matters will be resolved," he said.
Mulayam Singh Yadav was accompanied by brother Shivpal and close aide Amar Singh, met poll panel officials for about an hour. He pointed towards his cousin Akhilesh Yadav's chief aide Ram Gopal Yadav saying that he is the main reason behind the dispute.
Meanwhile, on Monday, supporters from across the NCR region gathered at the Mulayam Singh's New Delhi residence. They torn Ram Gopal Yadav's face out of a party poster that features many leaders of the party.
On January 3, both factions of the SP had petitioned the EC staking claim over the party and its symbol. The Election Commission had given both sides time till January 9 to submit proof of their legislative support.