New Delhi, Jan 9 (UNI) Stands hardened as prospects of a rapprochement between warring factions of the ruling Samajwadi party in the poll-bound Uttar Pradesh receded today. SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav took a tough stand and informed Rajya Sabha about expulsion of his cousin Ram Gopal Yadav, MP and mastermind of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in political moves. Septuagenarian Mulaym Singh Yadav met the Election Commission and staked claim on the party’s Bicycle symbol. Denying any rift in the party and with the son, Mulayam attacked cousin Ram Gopal Yadav accusing him of misguiding Akhilesh though he did not name him. ' There is no rift in the party... I will be talking to my son and try to resolve the dispute if any. This is a matter between father and son, ' Mulayam replied when reporters asked him whether the fact that he had come to claim the symbol as against his son did not indicate that all was not well with the party. 'There is only one person who is trying to create differences,' he said in an obvious reference to Prof Ram Gopal Yadav. SP’s Akhilesh faction, which claims the support of 212 of the 229 party MLAs in the 403-member state Assembly and 15 of the 24 MPs, also met the EC and urged the poll panel to decide soon on the row pertaining to the name of the party and its symbol 'cycle'. Talking to the media after meeting the poll panel, senior Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said on January 17, notification for first phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls will come.Therefore 'we have urged the EC to take a decision soon over the row related to the name of the party and its symbol'. The Akhilesh Yadav faction had on January 7 told the Election Commission that it has signatures of support from a majority of SP lawmakers and thus the party symbol should be given to the group headed by Akhilesh. Mr Mulayam Singh was accompanied by his brother Shivpal Singh Yadav and long time aide Amar Singh during his meeting with the poll panel. Mulayam had yesterday claimed that he 'continued' to be the National President of the party and that Akhilesh Yadav was only the Chief Minister of the state. He had also had said that Ram Gopal Yadav was suspended for six years. The Akhilesh Yadav faction had on January 7 told the Election Commission that it has signatures of support from a majority of SP lawmakers and thus the party symbol should be given to the group headed by Akhilesh. Amid the ongoing rift, Mr Mulayam Singh today informed Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President Hamid Ansari about expulsion of his cousin and party leader Ram Gopal Yadav. "Chairman Rajya Sabha has received letter from Sh. Mulayam S Yadav, intimating expulsion of Sh. Ramgopal Yadav from SP-will be duly examined," OSD to Vice President, Gurdeep Singh Sappal, said in a tweet. The Vice President would now examine the issue of Ram Gopal Yadav's expulsion from the party as Yadav is the Leader of the Samajwadi Party members in the Rajya Sabha. Ram Gopal Yadav, the estranged cousin of Mulayam Singh Yadav, is now playing "mentor" to Akhilesh, who has now claimed to have been elected as "new president" of the rebel group. UNI Team NB RP1933