Akhilesh releases own list of candidates: Rift widens in Samajwadi Party

The crisis in Samajwadi Party has deepened as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav last night released his own list of 235 candidates for the ​upcoming assembly elections.​ It comes a day after ​Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav released the official list of 325 candidates, denying tickets to several Akhilesh loyalists. 

Mulayam also ruled out projecting Akhilesh as the party's chief ministerial candidate.​ Prominent among those figuring in the list ​of Akhilesh Yadav ​are ministers Arvind Singh Gope, Pawan Pandey and Ram Govind Chaudhary, who are the



hardcore Akhilesh loyalists denied ticket by Mulayam.

Sources said, the candidates declared by Akhilesh are likely to contest on different symbols as independent candidates.They also said that the list of Akhilesh Yadav has candidates for 235 constituencies and of them, 171 are sitting MLAs whereas 64 new faces find place in it. Meanwhile state party chief Shivpal Singh Yadav released remaining list of 68 candidates. ​However some political experts say that it could be a pressure tactics from Akhilesh side which may end if Mulayam accommodates some of his loyalists.