SP to decide between Mulayam and Akhilesh tomorrow

Whether it is Mulayam Singh Yadav or his son Akhilesh Yadav who will be the next chief minister of Uttar Pradesh will be known when the Samajwadi Party's legislature wing meets here tomorrow.

The suspense on who will lead the SP governmentstretched for another day with the party doing nothing today to dispel the raging speculation on the issue.

"We don't have anything to say today. The legislature party will meet tomorrow when the leader will be chosen. All MLAs and MPs will take part in the meeting," party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav told reporters here.

On his part, Akhilesh Yadav added to the suspense today by evading questions on the chief ministership issue.

Ever since the election results were out on Tuesday, there has been speculation as to who would be the chief minister. A section of party leaders want Akhilesh as the new CM, crediting him with the party's change of fortunes with his spirited campaign before and during the elections.

However, some senior leaders are said to be having some reservations and the party leadership also does not want any bad blood on the issue just at the start of a new innings.

This section is of the view that the Samajwadi veteran would be a better choice at this moment when there has been a sudden outbreak of violent incidents in the state, which it sees as a deliberate attempt to sully the party's image.

The situation requires handling by a seasoned leader rather that a greenhorn in administration, party leaders feel.

"Law and order situation will be improved. It will be better. If anyone is found indulging in goondaism, even if he is a SP worker, he will be punished severely," Mulayam told reporters after he called the Director General of Police (DGP) and Chief Secretary Anup Kumar Mishra and reviewed the situation.