Uttar Pradesh elections: Mulayam and Akhilesh have ‘Plan B’ ready

As the feud within the Samajwadi Party to claim the party’s traditional election symbol the bicycle intensifies, it is becoming clear that both factions have their plan B ready.

The Akhilesh Yadav faction want the motorcycle as their symbol, which they believe would be a natural progression from the bicycle; while Mulayam Singh Yadav’s supporters are learnt to have approached the Lok Dal to allow them to use its traditional symbol of ‘Farmer ploughing the field’ (Hal Jota-ta Kisan). It will refurbish MSY’s pro-farmer image.

"A few leaders close to Mulayam Singh Yadav have approached me and they are interested in contesting the polls on our symbol," confirms Sunil Singh, President of Lok Dal.

He did not name the leaders but said, “I have neither got a call from Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) or from Shivpal Singh Yadav. But some senior leaders of that faction have approached me. I have put some conditions and if they agree to them, I will have no objection to sharing our election symbol with them,” he said.

"I am interested in giving my symbol to Mulayam Singh Yadav. He is an old disciple of Charan Singh and was even elected to the Assembly for the first time on this symbol," he claimed.

Sunil Singh had been acknowledged as the leader of the Lok Dal and given the right to use the Lok Dal symbol by the Election Commission of India after a long legal battle with Charan Singh's son Ajit Singh, who was then forced to re-christen his party as Rashtriya Lok Dal with election symbol of the handpump.

Akhilesh Yadav camp on the other hand does not appear perturbed at the prospect of the Election Commission freezing the ‘bicycle’ symbol. “We are not losing our sleep over this; We are informed that the motorcycle symbol is free and available,” said the leader. “Is it not normal in every household? We start with bicycle and then switch over to motorcycle when we progress in life,” he added.