Akhilesh revolts, issues own list

According to a note released to the media — it carried no signature — Akhilesh would be declaring the remaining 168 candidates very soon.

Theakhileshlistprompteduncleshivpal to release names of another 68 candidates.

Earlier in the day, SP sources had indicated that Akhilesh was trying to get Mulayam Singh to make changes to the Wednesday list, failing which he would put out a parallel list of candidates.

Emerging from the meeting with the Chief Minister, Forest Minister and Ayodhya MLA Tej Narain Pandey aka Pawan Pandey, denied a poll ticket by Mulayam Singh but granted one by Akhilesh, told reporters: “Kshetra mein jayenge, jeet ke aayenge. Akhileshji ko CM banana hai (We will go to the constituencies, and win to make Akhilesh CM again).”

Pandeysaidhewouldbetouringhisconstituency — the ticket for the Ayodhya seat had been handed to his cousin Ashish Pandey by Mulayam Singh — “in the name of and as the face of Akhilesh”.

Others present at the meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence included ministers Arvind Singh Gope and Ram Govind Chaudhary and 46 MLAS denied tickets by Mulayamsingh—allmadeittotheakhilesh list later.

Tanda MLA Azimul Haque Pehalwan said: “The Chief Minister has asked all MLAS to contest elections. He has assured us that a list with names of all sitting MLAS will be released soon.” The list, Pehalwan said, did not matter because he would contest the election in any case. Mulayam Singh had handed the Tanda ticket to Hazi Istkhat Ahmed Ansari.

Mehnagar MLA Brijlal Sonkar, replaced by Kalpnath Paswan in the Mulayam Singh list, said: “If the CM is sending us to our constituencies,thendefinitelyhehassomething in mind for us.”

SP youth leader and Akhilesh loyalist Atulpradhan—whosecandidaturewasrecommended by the Chief Minister for the Sardhana seat in Meerut — said: “I will contest the election. The CM has asked all present at the meeting to contest elections. The CM will release a list of candidates.”

Severalspworkersraisedslogansinsupport of Akhilesh after gathering outside his residenceandthatofmulayamsinghyadav. MLAS and leaders, counting on Akhilesh for poll tickets, reached his residence at 10 am. Thechiefministertoldthemhewasgoingto meet Mulayam Singh and would take up their case.

Akhilesh reached his father’s house at 1 pm.anhourlater,shivpalsinghyadav—the CM and his uncle have been in a tussle for control of the party — too turned up. That meeting went on until 3 pm. Thereafter, Shivpal and Akhilesh left, without speaking to reporters waiting outside. Akhilesh headed home and held talks with his loyalists until 5 pm.