EC likely to give its order on Samajwadi ‘Cycle’ today

The Election Commission is likely to give its order today on the symbol dispute of Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party. The three-member poll body, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi, had on Friday heard the two rival factions - one led by Mulayam Singh Yadav and other by his son Akhilesh - with both staking claim over the party's symbol, 'bicycle'.

The Commission's order is expected today as the notification for the first phase of the 7-phase Assembly elections in the state will be issued tomorrow.Under the Symbols' Order, the Commission heard the two sides on Friday. Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, argued for Akhilesh and said that majority of party MPs, MLAs,



MLCs and workers are with the Chief Minister and hence the symbol should be allotted to them.

Former solicitor general Mohan Parasaran, appearing for Mulayam Singh Yadav's side disputed the contention that there was any split in the party and insisted that the symbol should remain with them. He also said that the convention called by the Akhilesh camp in which he was elected as Party Chief as unconstitutional.

The Election Commission also has the option to come out with an interim order freezing the symbol as there is hardly any time left for it to go into the authenticity of the documents filed by both sides.