Samajwadi Party-Akhilesh Fraction Files Caveat In SC [Read Petition]

A day after the Election Commission of India's finding on Samajwadi Party's symbol- Bicycle, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav led faction of the Party has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court to pre-empt any attempt by the group led by his father Mulayam Singh Yadav to get an ex-parte order by challenging the Election Commission's decision to grant the symbol in his favour.

The caveat has been filed by SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav through advocate M R Shamshad and others owing allegiance to Akhilesh pleading that no order be passed without hearing them.

However, sources associated with Mulayam Singh faction said that they are not likely to challenge the EC order.

The Election Commission of India on Monday held that the group led by Akhilesh Yadav is the Samajwadi Party and is entitled to use its name and its reserved symbol ‘bicycle’.

Rejecting the contention put forth by the group led by Mulayam Singh Yadav on the touchstone of the functioning of rival groups as per the party constitution, the commission observed that the test of majority should be applied.

Perusing affidavits filed by the group led by Akhilesh Yadav, the commission observed that Akhilesh Yadav enjoys overwhelming majority support, both among the legislative and organisational wing of the party.

The commission presided by the Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi further observed that the Mulayam Singh Yadav group did not file any affidavit of any MP or MLA or of any delegates to claim any support among those members for his group.

In all his replies, Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav only made the contention that there was no split in the party, the commission said.

Read the petition here.

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