Akhilesh calls dad; truce prospects brighten

Fresh efforts began on Thursday to broker a compromise within the warring Samajwadi Party.

Shortly after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav told his nominees to start preparing for the elections, regardless of which camp gets the party symbol, his father Mulayam flew to the state capital in a chartered plane from Delhi, where he was camping.

Akhilesh had called Mulayam earlier in the day, party sources said.

SP Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh and state party chief (Mulayam faction) Shivpal Singh Yadav also accompanied Mulayam, the sources told DH.

Akhilesh camp insiders said senior party leader Azam Khan held a long discussion with the chief minister to find a solution to the crisis. The party is now split into camps led by Akhilesh and Mulayam.

Sources said Mulayam had agreed to give Akhilesh the authority' to select candidates. In return, Akhilesh agreed to relinquish the post of national president of the party.