Shivpal reaches Netaji's residence ahead of meeting with EC

With all eyes set on Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav's meeting with the Election Commission to stake claim to the party's symbol 'cycle', his younger brother Shivpal Singh Yadav has reached the former's residence here to chalk out the future strategy.

Mulayam, who yesterday made it clear that he was still the party chief, will visit the Election Commission's later in the day to stake claim to 'cycle'.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, who founded the Samajwadi Party 25 years ago, will also urge the Election Commission to check the authenticity and legality of papers submitted by his son Akhilesh Yadav's aide Ram Gopal Yadav.

Mulayam also stated yesterday that Ram Gopal had no right to call the convention on January 1 as he had suspended him from the Samajwadi Party earlier.

In a bid to buttress claim over the 'cycle' symbol, Akhilesh Yadav-led camp represented by Ram Gopal had earlier on Saturday submitted an affidavit mentioning that Samajwadi Party leaders are supporting the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.

Ramgopal said that the relevant documents, brought in "seven cartons with more than 1.5 lakh pages", were submitted to the poll panel to assert Akhilesh's right over the party's name and symbol.

He said that he submitted affidavits of 4,716 delegates of the total 5,731, indicating overwhelming support for Akhilesh.

The Election Commission had given both sides time till January 9 to submit proof of their legislative support.

However, if the Election Commission cannot reach any decision before January 17, then the party symbol might be frozen and two different symbols would be provide to both factions for contesting the assembly elections.

The assembly elections in the most populous and politically significant state in India will be held in seven phases beginning February 11.