Tipu becomes 'Sultan'! Mulayam ready to act as SP's 'Margdarshak', say sources

The twists and turns in the ongoing Samajwadi Party feud seemed to tone down party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav's stance on Friday. According to sources, Mulayam has agreed to act as party's 'Margdarshak'. 

The move is being seen as a desparate bid to save party from an impending split because if the Election Commission decides to freeze the Samajwadi Party symbol 'cycle' on Friday, the father and son duo are likely to float separate political parties.

Earlier in the day, speculations were rife that Mulayam Singh Yadav is likely to switch to his old party Lok Dal’s symbol of two oxen ploughing the field while Akhilesh will choose motorcycle as the symbol of his new party – Akhil Bhartiya Samajwadi Party. 

Election Commission is slated to give a decision on the on-going tussle within the Samajwadi Party on Friday. The commission will either decide to assign the symbol to either side or freeze it, till further notice. All this, if the two factions did not reach an amicable decision till then, which now seems unlikely. 

Here are the updates: 

5.22pm

Election Commission reserves order in Samajwadi Party's case

5.00pm

# Mulayam Singh Yadav is ready to assume the role of party mentor

3:00pm 

#Sources say that EC will decide the matter today, even if the meeting has to go on till late in night

#Mulayam did not submit claim for party symbol, EC to decide on basis on support, say sources

Till 12:00pm

#Hearing in Election Commission on Samajwadi Party's case adjourned for lunch, to resume at 3 PM

#Delhi: Kapil Sibal arrives at Election Commission office where both factions of Samajwadi Party are already present (12:00pm)

#Delhi: Akhilesh Yadav's supporters including Ramgopal Yadav, Kiranmoy Nanda and Naresh Agarwal also arrive at Election Commission office (11:50am)

#Delhi: Mulayam Singh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav arrive at Election Commission office (11:40AM)

#Senior advocates Mohan Parasaran, N Hariharan and MC Dhingra to represent Mulayam Singh Yadav in EC today (Friday): ANI

Also read:

As SP factions wait for EC to resolve the dispute on Friday, Akhilesh chalks out poll strategy with close aides

SP dispute over election symbol: Time running out for Mulayam - Akhilesh as EC advances hearing to Jan 13