Mulayam, Akhilesh factions likely to fight UP elections separately as talks fail

Mulayam Singh Yadav and son Akhilesh Yadav may not reconcile before January 9 and fight elections under separate banners, sources said. 

People close to the Samajwadi Party top leadership have told Newsnation that all attempts to end the Yadav family feud have failed and the party is headed for splits. 

Efforts for reconciliation in the Yadav family had appeared to be gaining momentum on Friday as Shivpal met with his nephew Akhilesh for the first time since the split in SP on Sunday, but the long meeting ended in stalemate. 

According to sources, Mulayam and Shivpal will float candidates on all 403 seats and compete with their political heir and current Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav head-on. 

Mulayam is confident that he will win the battle for the Cycle symbol at the election commission. The decision will be announced on January 9, which is the deadline given by EC to both factions of the party for ending the dispute and presenting their claim separately or together.

By Friday, Akhilesh had written affidavits of 212 out of 229 MLAs, 56 out of 68 MLCs and 15 out of 24 MP, which is far more than his father Mulayam Singh. 

To counter the Akhilesh wave, Mulayam and Shivpal are likely to oversee and participate in the election campaign personally. 

Akhilesh to join hands with Congress?

There are also rumours that Akhilesh Yadav may announce his alliance with Congress by the end of Saturday, as he reportedly had a discussion with Priyanka Gandhi on this topic.

If there is an alliance between Congress and SP, the results would be good as it will help the two parties keep the Muslim-Yadav equation intact in Uttar Pradesh.

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