Election 2017 | Mulayam loses Samajwadi Party, Cycle symbol to Akhilesh: What is next for him?

The long and tiring Samajwadi Party tussle is over. Akhilesh Yadav has won the battle and the prize is his father's party and its symbol - Cycle. Tragically for Mulayam Singh Yadav, his scion took away the party he founded with his own sweat and blood. But this may not be the end of the road for the political patriarch.

The Election Commission on Monday decided that Akhilesh has the rightful claim over the Samajwadi Party and election symbol 'Cycle'. The decision could result in a split between the Mulayam Singh Yadav faction and Akhilesh faction which are at loggerheads to get the reins of the ruling party.

Here are the possible future avenues for Mulayam, if it happens:

The Akhilesh faction of the ruling party has been flexing its muscles ever since the feud came to the fore in SP. Akhilesh has been vocal about his contempt some of the Mulayam's closest allies, including Amar Singh and Shivpal Yadav. 

So while there is little hope for his cavalcade, Mulayam is likely to retain his influence on son Akhilesh. The arguments gain strength from the fact that the first action of victorious Akhilesh Yadav after the EC order was to pay a visit to his father Mulayam at his residence.  

Just four days ago, after a hearing before the Election Commission, Mulayam had agreed to act as a 'Margdarshak' of the Samajwadi Party signalling a truce-like situation with his son. Although, when some reporters asked him as to who should get the symbol, he had said 'us'.

It also means that Mulayam is not ready to make such sacrifices when it comes to the party symbol, which could signal some continuous resistance between father and son in the future as well.

Another less likely scenario is Mulayam Singh Yadav will take on his son head-on with his old party Lok Dal and fight Uttar Pradesh assembly elections still. 

#ElectionCommission decides to give #SamajwadiParty poll symbol #Cycle to @yadavakhilesh https://t.co/FQULiPwbwZ | Here is the EC order pic.twitter.com/wiAU5VPbMf

— Pratyush Ranjan (@pratyush_ranjan) January 16, 2017

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