NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party (SP) founder Mulayam Singh Yadav is on his way to Delhi to meet Election Commission (EC) officials following Sunday’s split in the party ahead of crucial state polls later this year.
The SP’s election symbol, the cycle, is the issue Mulayam will discuss with the EC. ‘Sacked’ party MP Amar Singh too is back from London and is expected to accompany Mulayam to the EC for a meeting scheduled for 2 pm.
“The Samajwadi Party’s election symbol is my signature,” said Mulayam, indicating he isn’t going to let go of it easily.
Mulayam’s brother Shivpal arrived in the Capital earlier today and expressed his allegiance for his brother who’s called ‘netaji’ by most people.
“Netaji is currently party president and will remain so in the future too. I will be with netaji until my dying breath,” Shivpal said upon his arrival in Delhi.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav – Mulayam’s son – yesterday staged a coup, dislodging his father as Samajwadi Party president and installing himself as the boss at an “emergency convention” of the party.
In the meanwhile, Amar Singh, whom many blame for the split in the SP, told the media today that he too is with Mulayam all the way through. “I am with Mulayam Singh Yadav and can even become a ‘Khalnayak’ for him,” Amar Singh said. ‘Khalnayak’ means villain.
Mulayam, who’s 77, said today he’s in perfectly good health amid reports of blood pressure problems following a gruelling weekend that culminated in his son Akhilesh revolting against him and his uncle Shivpal, to cause the SP to split.
“I am not unwell at all, I am completely healthy,” Mulayam said. He further praised the media for “always standing by him.” “The media has always stood by me. I haven’t done anything wrong or corrupt. If there have been allegations, the Supreme Court has absolved me,” Mulayam said, according to ANI.
Leave a Reply