Neither Samajwadi Party nor its symbol will change: Mulayam

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, January 11

Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav on Wednesday asserted that he wanted the party to remain united charging cousin Ramgopal Yadav of conspiring to break the party in connivance with the BJP.

In an emotional five-minute address to party workers on the lawns of the Samajwadi Party headquarters, Yadav said he had already given whatever he possessed.

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“What is left with me? I now only have you supporters. I have full faith in you,” said a visibly mournful Yadav.

He once again reiterated that son Akhilesh would remain the chief ministerial candidate for the next election.

“Neither the Samajwadi Party, nor its name or its symbol will change. The Samajwadi Party is united and would remain united,” maintained Yadav.

He said Ramgopal under pressure from his son and daughter-in-law was in the process of forming another party called All India Samajwadi Party for which he has sought the symbol of motorcycle.

Yadav said he had information that his estranged cousin Ramgopal was in touch with the BJP and had met the party’s president at least four times.

Ramgopal’s son and daughter-in-law had been named by the CBI in a case for being directors in a tainted engineer’s company.

Both factions led by Mulayam and Akhilesh have staked claim over the party symbol before the Election Commission which is expected to give its verdict by January 13.