SP Candidates List: Akhilesh Yadav camp in sombre mood

This was despite the fact that a day after SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav declared names of 325 UP assembly candidates, Akhilesh called out the meeting at of all discontented aspirants, all his loyalists, at his official residence. This was also despite the fact that Akhilesh brought his parallel list of 367 candidates trying to calm down the tempers.

But this was not to be. Former minister Arvind Singh Gope, who was denied ticket from Barabanki, broke down in front the CM blaming Amar Singh and former minister Beni Prasad Verma for the raw deal he received from the party leadership. Another former UP minister Ram Govind Chaudhary, who was also denied ticket, also lamented that how he was cajoled by the 'Netaji" (Mulayam) himself to leave Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP) but he landed up with such situation.

Tempers ran high at CM's residence but the undercurrent was sombre because no fresh formula emerged to adjust all Akhilesh loyalaist in the list of candidates which was said to be prepared by state SP President Shivpal Singh Yadav in consultation with Mulayam Singh Yadav leaving CM Akhilesh high and dry.

As the day progressed, the political atmosphere in the SP circles was agog with rumours about resignation of Shivpal and Dharmendra Yadav being his replacement. No official version of the party was forthcoming on any of the development which took place since yesterday when the 'only' official candidates list was released.

The situation is likely to continue till the Party Supremo take the final call as Akhilesh had indicated that he would speak to him with regards to ticket distribution. Akhilesh, however, had a close door meeting with Mulayam Singh Yadav and Shivpal on Thursday but what transpired among them was not immediately known.