Fight for 'cycle': Election Commission hears Mulayam, Akhilesh camps, reserves order on SP symbol

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Friday reserved its judgement on the dispute over the Samajwadi Party's 'cycle', with both the warring factions staking claim to the symbol.

The Election Commission had summoned both the groups, one led by party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and the other by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal also reached the poll panel in support of the Akhilesh faction.

The hearing, which lasted four hours, saw Sibal arguing that the majority of MPs, MLAs and MLCs as well as the SP delegates are with Akhilesh.

In rebuttal, the Mulayam camp claimed that the convention in which Akhilesh was anointed as the party chief was against the SP constitution.

After the split in the party last week, both sides had submitted signed affidavits of legislators and office bearers to claim control over the party's name and symbol.

The 'cycle' symbol could be frozen before the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh if the Election Commission is not able to decide which of the two factions commands the majority in the organisation. Earlier today, the Akhilesh camp expressed confidence at securing the cycle symbol and winning the UP polls.

"We are confident of retaining the 'cycle' symbol," said Naresh Uttam, the newly-appointed UP unit president. He added that the SP will gain "absolute majority" in the election.

"Our main agenda for polls will be development. We are ahead of rival parties due to works done by our government in past five years," he said.