Mulayam handed his son a list of around 38 candidates he wants to be fielded as SP candidates in upcoming election. According to sources, Akhilesh has an unfavorable opinion of at least 12 candidates suggested by the party patriarch.
Two of those mentioned in the list, whom Akhilesh has agreed to field, are locked in a bitter war of words with CM's close aide and party general secretary Ramgopal Yadav, making the situation troublesome for the new party president.
Ambika Chaudhary, who featured in Mulayam's list, is disliked by Akhilesh, who is in complete control of the ruling Samajwadi Party after the EC order.
Mulayam’s picks also included his brother Shivpal Yadav’s son, Aditya, and sacked UP ministers Narad Rai and OP Singh.
Shivpal, who is involved in a bitter power tussle with Akhilesh, however, did figure in the list.
The issue, which is likely to become another bone of contention between the two, surfaced a day after Akhilesh called on his father at the latter's residence and described his ties with him as "unbreakable".
Mulayam was beaten on Monday in a battle of supremacy in the ruling SP by his son, as the EC recognised Akhilesh as the National President of the party and allotted the party symbol of cycle to his faction.