With the BJP's wave sweeping the state of Uttar Pradesh in the Election Results 2017, winning 308 out of 403 seats, murmurs are being heard within the cadres of the Samajwadi Party (SP) seeking a step down from the party chief and outgoing chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. It was just before the elections were announced that the SP leaders had a bitter family tussle and the then party chief and Akhilesh Yadav's father Mulauam Singh Yadav was unceremoniously removed from the post. The party underwent a bitter infighting before that when Mulayam Singh's brother Ram Gopal Yadav and Akhilesh were expelled from SP. Later the father and son duo( Mulayam Singh Yadav -Akhilesh Yadav) also indulged in fighting over their party's symbol-the cycle. The Election Commission however had granted the symbol to the outgoing CM Akhilesh Yadav. Rumours around the same time were also doing the rounds that Akhilesh may float a separate party but the same died down when he took over the post of party chief unanimously.
Experts say that it was perhaps for the first time in the history of SP that Mulayam Singh Yadav was hardly seen campaigning for his party candidates. This also marked a shift for the two bahus of the Yadav clan- Aparna Yadav and Dimple Yadav who for the first time were seen campaigning in full swing.
Notwithstanding the young brigade's all out efforts, the question now being asked is should Akhilesh Yadav hand over the reins of the party back to his father Mulayam Singh Yadav, thus taking the responsibility for a dismal performance in the Elections?