The Election Commission will hear both factions of the Samajwadi Party on January 13 to determine which of them has a valid claim to the election symbol, the bicycle.
Rajya Sabha member Ramgopal Yadav, a representative of the Akhilesh group, had on Monday urged the Commission to settle the dispute before the process of nominations starts for the Uttar Pradesh elections on January 17.
Documents examined
Having received representations from both sides, the Commission has gone through the documents submitted by them.
During the hearing, the poll panel will examine the claims and counter claims. The final decision would be taken on the basis of the numerical majority in terms of supporters in the party’s organisational and legislative structures.
Mr. Mulayam Singh has maintained that the faction led by him is the real Samajwadi Party. He has also accused the rival faction of submitting forged documents as part of the affidavits to the EC. He again met Commission officials on Monday and staked a claim to the party symbol.
The party patriarch also said as Mr Ramgopal Yadav had already been expelled, the convention called by him to elect Mr. Akhilesh Yadav as the party’s national president was not valid.
He also inisisted had not been removed from the post of party chief.
