Akhilesh wins Yadav ‘bicycle’

Ravi S Singh & Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

New Delhi/Lucknow, January 16

In a major setback to Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Election Commission of India this evening recognised son Akhilesh Yadav’s appointment as the party’s national president, allotting him the “bicycle” symbol.

Ending days of suspense, the EC virtually legitimised all decisions taken at the emergency national convention of the party on January 1 where the elected representatives unanimously elevated Akhilesh as the national president in place of Mulayam.

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The EC applied the test of “majority support” principle as approved by the Supreme Court in the cause célèbre case of “Sadiq Ali and Others versus Election Commission of India and Others” (1972) to adjudicate the competing claim to the bicycle symbol.

In its 42-page order, the poll panel observed that as per the documents provided by both sides, Akhilesh enjoyed “overwhelming majority support”, both among the legislative and organisational wing of the party.

“…the group led by Akhilesh Yadav is the Samajwadi Party and is entitled to use its name and its reserved symbol ‘bicycle’ for the purposes of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968,” the panel observed. The decision comes just a day before filing of nomination papers for the first phase of the seven-phase UP election.

In Lucknow, Akhilesh struck a conciliatory note saying the Assembly elections would be fought under the guidance of “netaji” (Mulayam). The CM, who visited Mulayam’s residence soon after the EC decision, said the next government would be formed under “netaji’s” supervision.

The news triggered celebrations outside Akhilesh’s official residence. Earlier in the day, a nameplate announcing Akhilesh as the national president had appeared at the SP state office.

Mulayam is likely to be the patron of the party, unless he decides to go ahead with “Plan B” of contesting on Lok Dal’s symbol of “farmer ploughing field” against his son.

Speaking to party members, Mulayam earlier said he was ready to contest against his son if required. Despondency was evident in the Mulayam camp during the day as aide Amar Singh decided to leave for London for treatment, saying he would return only by March-end.

The future of Akhilesh’s uncle and dislodged state president Shivpal Singh Yadav remains unclear.

Sources say the first list of SP candidates and the party manifesto would be released in a day or two.