Akhilesh may stake claim over party as rift within SP widens

As rift within Samajwadi Party is refusing to end, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is left with no option but to stake claim over the party. Given that his father and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav is unlikely to soften his stand on candidate’s selection, Akhilesh is likely to announce his own list of candidates signalling that he still has control over the party.

According to political analysts, Akhilesh is left with two options -- either he form a new party or stakes claim over the existing one. “Making a new party would not go well with Akhilesh as if it happens, he would have to contest the election on a fresh symbol, which may prove a suicidal attempt for him. Since Akhilesh has a major chunk of MLAs in his favour, staking claim on the party is doable,” a party insider said.

“Announcing fresh lists of candidates by both the groups is immaterial. When both the factions are not on the same page, the division of party cadre is imminent as neither Mulayam nor Akhilesh have given any signal of compromise,” the party insider said, adding that the future of Samajwadi Party is very uncertain as of now.

Meanwhile, in a direct reference to Shivpal Yadav, party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said that there are forces within the party who do not want Akhilesh to become chief minister for the second time. “Bahut saari aisi shaktiyan hai, ek aadh aadmi dal ke andar bhi hai jo ye nahi chahte ke Akhilesh dubara Mukyamantri bane,” said Ram Gopal, who was sacked from party’s all posts after he had sided with Akhilesh during the family tussle.

Earlier in the day, Akhilesh Yadav spoke to the SP supremo to convey his displeasure over the choice of names. The factional feud in the Samajwadi Party again came in the open as Mulayam Singh on Wednesday declared candidates for 325 of the 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh and ruled out projecting Akhilesh as the chief ministerial candidate.

A clearly upset Akhilesh also met his supporters at his 5-Kalidas Marg residence here and later spoke to his father and party patriarch Mulayam Singh to convey his displeasure over the list of candidates from which names of his close confidants were missing, party sources said.

Hectic political activities began right from the morning with party leaders gathering outside the residences of Akhilesh and Mulayam. A big crowd also assembled outside Shivpal’s residence. Party insiders said that the chief minister, before meeting Mulayam, met legislators and office bearers who do not figure in the list of party candidates.