Mulayam gives in, not to fight Akhilesh

The raging feud within the Samajwadi Party (SP) family appears to be nearing a resolution.

Mulayam Singh Yadav on Tuesday virtually gave in to his son and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav following Monday’s Election Commission’s ruling in the latter’s favour.

According to sources within the SP, Mulayam, who had a meeting with Akhilesh on Tuesday, agreed not to put up his candidates against the nominees of the Akhilesh faction, provided his and his younger brother Shivpal Singh Yadav’s supporters were accommodated by Akhilesh in his list.

Mulayam would not challenge the EC decision in the court as he had indicated earlier, according to the sources.

Akhilesh also made it clear on Tuesday that he was ready to take his father along. “I am sure we will have his blessings,” he said.

Sources said that Mulayam, who also held a meeting with Shivpal and some other leaders loyal to him, told his supporters to accept Akhilesh’s leadership and work under him.

“Netaji (Mulayam) will not form his party, nor will he put up candidates against Akhilesh’s faction...he does not want to send a message that he is against his own party,” said a leader close to Mulayam.

Mulayam, according to sources, handed over a list of 38 candidates to Akhilesh and asked him to include them in the list being prepared by the latter.

“The list given by Mulayam contains the names of the ministers, who were sacked by Akhilesh, and some other supporters of Shivpal,” the SP leader said.

It was not clear if Shivpal’s son Aditya Yadav would also be contesting the elections. “Aditya may contest if Shivpal withdraws,” he added.

Shivpal, sources said, has also relented and agreed not to fight his nephew.
The rival camp would also not challenge the EC ruling on the party symbol.
Sources in the Akhilesh camp said that the chief minister had agreed to accommodate most of the names suggested by Mulayam.

“The chief minister’s list has around 80% names on which both factions have no problem....it is not going to be a big issue,” said a leader from the Akhilesh camp.
He said that barring a couple of names, all the candidates suggested by Mulayam would be given tickets.

One of the main reasons behind Akhilesh’s revolt was denial of nominations to his supporters by the then state unit president of the SP Shivpal.

Sources said that Akhilesh was likely to declare his first list of Assembly polls nominees, mainly from the seats going to the polls in the first phase on February 11, on Wednesday.
DH News Service