UP Election 2017: Akhilesh skips EC meet on party symbol, to focus on four-five campaign rallies a day

The battle for the cycle symbol seems to be reaching its conclusion with both Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav factions presenting their case to the Election Commission on Friday. And while senior Yadav is already at the EC office, reports suggest that Akhilesh has decided to stay back in Uttar Pradesh.

According to CNN-News18, Ram Gopal Yadav will present his factions case to retain the Samajwadi Party’s cycle symbol in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly Election.

#BREAKING -- Mulayam Singh Yadav reaches EC with Ambika Chaudhary and Shivpal Yadav, reports @Arunima24 #SamajwadiDangal
(Images: ANI) pic.twitter.com/a6H1LXqCfq

— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 13, 2017

While critics may say that Akhilesh is most likely absent in order to avoid coming face-to-face with his father in the battle for the cycle symbol, the strategy is likely to be something else.

According to reports, the Akhilesh Yadav faction of the Samajwadi Party want the incumbent UP chief minister to focus on poll campaigning.

#UPDATE -- SP MLAs tell @yadavakhilesh that top priority should be to ensure minority confidence: SP Sources tell @maryashakil

— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 13, 2017

And this may not entirely be wrong. According to an Economic Times report , Akhilesh has a very tight campaign tour schedule planned ahead. He is planning to attend four-five rallies a day along with his wife Dimple as his “star campaigner”.

According to the report, the campaign blueprint has been drawn up and the UP chief minister has already dispatched teams to all 403 assembly constituencies after he took over as the national president of the party on 1 January. “Dimple Yadav will be a star campaigner for us…the public is eager to listen to her too,” Sunil Singh Yadav, a close aide of Akhilesh Yadav told the newspaper.

The Akhilesh faction of the Samajwadi Party has decided to form an alliance with the Congress and the Rasthriya Lok Dal (RLD) for the upcoming Assembly election. And according to reports, discussions on seat sharing have already begun with both parties.

According to a CNN-News18 tweet, the RLD has demanded 30 to 36 seats, whereas Akhilesh’ group is ready to give 20 seats. Congress is known to have demanded  105-115 seats whereas the Samajwadi Party is willing to give around 75-80 seats.

Interestingly, according to sources, the Samajwadi Party thinks that Congress is not likely to win more than 10 seats in the election.

#UPDATE -- Holding talks with RLD's Jayant Chaudhary. RLD demands 30-36 seats, Akhilesh group ready to give 20: SP Sources tell @maryashakil

— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 13, 2017

#UPDATE -- @yadavakhilesh personally in touch with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi: SP Sources tell @maryashakil #SamajwadiDangal

— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 13, 2017