The Samajwadi Party (SP) in UP continues to be in a mess with the struggle between Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav not coming to an end. Akhilesh Yadav’s development agenda may lose its impact in the electoral battle. Mulayam is still trying to paper over the cracks in the party. Reversing his previous stand that the SP legislators will elect their next Chief Ministerial candidate, he declared that Akhilesh Yadav should be the candidate. But his meeting with his son failed to address the issues pushing the party to a split. Mulayam’s statement did not throw light on who the SP President is. Mulayam also said that the convention called by Ram Gopal Yadav, his cousin was illegal. Akhilesh’s faction claims the support of 220 out of 229 party MLAs. And the convention declared Akhilesh the new national President of the party. The Election Commission may de-recognize the party symbol of a bicycle. Such measures have been taken by the EC in the past.
If the party symbol is frozen, a new chapter will open in Akhilesh’s political carrier. He has to choose a new symbol which will mark a change from identity based politics to politics based on aspirations. There can however be no doubt that a rapprochement between the two factions in the SP will be the best way out of the continuing crisis. It will be a good thing if Shivpal Yadav and Amar Singh accept Akhilesh as the leader which will strengthen the party organization. That will prevent the BSP and the BJP from cashing in on the field, especially with the SP-Congress combine kicking off the election campaign jointly.
