The Election Commission on Monday allotted the “bicycle” symbol to the Akhilesh faction of the Samajwadi Party as the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister enjoyed majority in the party’s organisational and legislative structures. The EC concluded that there was indeed a split in the Samajwadi Party.
In its 42-page order, which has come as a big jolt to party founder Mulayam Singh, the Commission weighed the arguments put forth by him and the Akhilesh group: the first claiming that there was no split in the party and that he was still its national president, while the latter asserted that it enjoyed the majority and therefore, was entitled to the party symbol.
Meets Mulayam
As soon as he got the news, Mr. Akhilesh Yadav went to meet his father to seek his blessings. He tweeted a picture of his meeting, saying, “The cycle will keep moving, keep moving forward.”
Represented by senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan and Kapil Sibal during the hearing on January 13, the Akhilesh faction submitted that Ramgopal Yadav filed individual affidavits of support from an overwhelming majority of members at all levels of the party, including parliamentarians, MLAs, MLCs, National Executive members, and delegates of the National Council, the total amounting to almost 90 per cent of the party’s total strength.
No supporting papers
On the other hand, Mr. Mulayam Singh had not submitted any affidavit to show the support enjoyed by him in any of these categories.
Noting that despite directions, the Samajwadi Party founder had not filed any such affidavit claiming support, the EC accepted the rival faction’s arguments.
However, to determine whether to which faction the party symbol should be allocated, the EC had to first decide if there was a split in the party as per Para 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, which defines the Commission’s power in relation to splinter groups or rival sections of a recognised party.
