Akhilesh Yadav is the 'real' SP: Ram Gopal Yadav

Submitting notarized affidavits of support of over 200 MLAs and MLCs to the Election Commission in a massive show of strength, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's close aide and uncle Ram Gopal Yadav on Saturday asserted that the party symbol of the Cycle should be allotted to them- the 'real' Samajwadi Party.

Speaking to the media after submitting the documents, Yadav said that seven cartons worth of documents had been submitted to the Election Commission.

"We have done what is needed on our part, now the future course of action will be decided by the Election Commission. We have taken seven cartons filled with documents and submitted. The Election Commission had given time till 9th January but we have finished all formalities before time," he said.

Asserting that prime facie the 'real' SP is that which is led by Akhilesh, Yadav said that it their right to claim the party cycle symbol.

"This is an overwhelming majority as more than 90 percent majority is with Akhilesh. We have asked the Election Commission to recognise Akhilesh Yadav's party as the real Samajwadi Party," Yadav added.

Copies of the notarised affidavits have also been sent to Mulayam Yadav.

Polls will be held in seven phases in Uttar Pradesh on February 11 (73 constituencies), February 15 (67), February 19 (69), February 23 (53), February 27 (52), March 3 (49) and March 8 (40).

The Election Commission had demanded that for either Mulayam Singh Yadav or Akhilesh Yadav to claim the party along with its iconic symbol the 'cycle', each side would have to prove the number of MLAs, MPs and MLCs supporting them through signed affidavits by January 9.

Yesterday, Shivpal Yadav today, met with Akhilesh Yadav at his residence on 5, Kalidas Marg today in a bid to forge some kind of truce between the two sides who are showing no signs of backing down.

The months-long feud within Samajwadi party's Yadav family hit a high note when last week Mulayam Singh Yadav expelled his son, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and cousin Ram Gopal Yadav from the party for six years.

However, the young Yadav was soon re-inducted by party workers as the Samajwadi Party president.