Tuesday’s meeting in Lucknow between Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav has provided indications that informal parleys are still on to settle the dispute within the Samajwadi Party.

A number of senior leaders in the party has been favouring discussions between the two warring camps in the family-led party. “The end of the tussle is not near. But we are trying to create a peaceful atmosphere so that talks could begin,” a senior leader in the party told BusinessLine.

There are also suggestions that Mulayam should be made Chairman of the party. Both factions have also demanded that certain names be dropped from the list of office-bearers so that the atmosphere is not vitiated further. “Those leaders who are trying to make a political fortune by splitting the party must be punished,” said the SP leader, who is in favour of a truce within the party.

A day after Mulayam met the Election Commission, leaders from the Chief Minister’s camp, including MPs Ram Gopal Yadav, Naresh Agarwal and Kiranmoy Nanda, met the poll panel and demanded the ‘cycle’ symbol.

Another leader in the party said the ownership over the symbol will be the key to the discussions. “Nobody in the party wants to lose the symbol,” he added.

Parleys are taking place at Lucknow and in Delhi. Leaders close to Akhilesh Yadav have been arguing that due to ill health Mulayam has not been able to take a decision, and that Chief Minister’s detractors have been using this to their favour. Those in the other camp said Ramgopal Yadav was trying to create divisions within the family which has irked Mulayam.

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