Amid the continuing factional feud in his party, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav appeared to be extending an olive branch to his rebellious son Akhilesh Yadav. Mulayam said that Akhilesh would be the next Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh if the party retains power.
The surprise statement came on a day when the factional war in the Samajwadi Party escalated with the Akhilesh camp seeking an early decision on the disputed party symbol while the embattled SP patriarch asserted that he is still the party chief.