Mulayam to visit EC to stake claim to SP's 'cycle' symbol

Extremely perturbed with the ongoing feud, Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday said the party's election symbol is his signature, adding he will go to Delhi and fight for the right as he has not done any wrong in his political career.

"Nobody can accuse me of anything. I have never done anything wrong. The media has always supported me. I have not done any wrong or corrupt thing. The Supreme Court freed me from all allegations levelled against me. I am not unwell at all. I am completely healthy. I will go to Delhi," Mulayam told the media here.

Admitting that he has taken a 'tough' stand, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav yesterday justified the turn of events in the Samajwadi Party.

The party split yesterday with a national convention declaring Akhilesh the new national president, a post that was held by his father.

The convention also made Mulayam the Samajwadi Party's patron.

Party leader Amar Singh will also accompany Mulayam to the Election Commission's office in the national capital to stake the party's 'cycle' symbol.

This comes after the Samajwadi Party's national convention convened by Mulayam on January 5 was put on hold.

"As per Mulayam Singh Yadav's order, national convention of Samajwadi Party called by him on January 5th has been put on hold," Shivpal Yadav said.

The crisis further deepened in the ruling Samajwadi Party as Mulayam declared all the resolutions passed in the emergency convention called yesterday by expelled leader Ram Gopal Yadav as "null and void" terming the convention itself as "unconstitutional and illegal".

In a very eventful day yesterday, Mulayam expelled his close colleagues MPs Naresh Agrawal and Kironmoy Nanda besides again expelling Ram Gopal Yadav from the party for six years.

Akhilesh also appointed Naresh Uttam as state party chief who replaced Shivpal Yadav.

His supporters laid a siege over the party headquarters in Lucknow and forcibly removed Shivpal's nameplate outside his office.

Amid the ongoing political tussle in the Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh who has been nominated party president, is expected to approach the Election Commission today to stake claim for the party's 'cycle' symbol.

Sources said the new president has to approach the Election Commission according to the party's convention to stake claim as the real Samajwadi Party.

As per the party's constitution, the president of the party allots symbols for an election.