UP CM Akhilesh Yadav, marginalised in ticket distribution and denied the promise of any relief by father and SP boss Mulayam Singh Yadav

LUCKNOW: The rival factions in Samajwadi Party appeared racing towards a split on Thursday when UP CM Akhilesh Yadav, marginalised in ticket distribution and denied the promise of any relief by father and SP boss Mulayam Singh Yadav, signalled his rebellious intent by announcing his own list of candidates for 235 seats.

The dramatic move came after the CM failed to secure any commitment from Mulayam during six hours of talks that the SP list of 325 candidates announced on Wednesday could be changed to accommodate his discarded loyalists and his preferences for other seats. Akhilesh’s retaliation brought the simmering feud in the ruling Saifai clan to a possible flashpoint and has raised the prospect of the SP splitting just ahead of assembly elections.

The crisis deepened further with Shivpal, late on Thursday night, releasing the second list of 78 candidates, a potentially precipitate step which could further snuff out the options for Akhilesh within the SP tent. Shivpal included some Akhilesh loyalists, Abhishek Mishra, Yasar Shah and Kamal Akhtar.

Sources close to Akhilesh asserted that the aggression was not just posturing and that he was determined to go his separate way if he was not heeded by his father and estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav. They indicated that Akhilesh was bracing himself for this eventuality and had prepared plans to enter the fray on the strength of his `brand’.

Sources said he was ready to follow through the declaration of his list of candidates, who will be up against SP’s official nominees in many constituencies, by moving the Election Commission to apply for a symbol for the breakaway faction and to get the SP’s `cycle’ symbol frozen.

Mulayam was not flinching from a fight either. The Yadav chieftain, in the six-hour meeting he had with Akhilesh in which Shivpal was also present, refused to give in to his son’s protests against the “raw deal” to the latter’s loyalists in ticket distribution.

“Aap ko jo karna hai mujhe kariye, mere logo ko kyon punish kar rahe hai (If you are angry with me, punish me not my friends),” the CM is learnt to have repeatedly told Mulayam. The unmoved SP chief just said “hum dekhenge”.