Samajwadi Party ticket hopefuls figure in either one or both lists of Akhilesh and Mulayam

LUCKNOW: Four bungalows, all located within a radius of a couple of kilometres in Lucknow, have become the obeisance points for Samajwadi Party supporters. Outside which one you wish to soak the winter sun daily depends on which side of the tussle you are on.

An ardent Akhilesh Yadav supporter would be outside 5, Kalidas Marg (5 KD) - the CM’s official residence -invariably with a banner in tow terming Akhilesh a 'bhartiya rajneeti ka heera'. An old Mulayam loyalist would be outside the SP patriach's house 5, Vikramaditya Marg (5 VD) hoping for Netaji's 'darshan' while supporters of both hues collect inside the lawn of 19, VD Marg, the party headquarters, if they feel the urge for a heated discussion with the other faction.

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The real action seems to be in the white bungalow virtually at the centre of the three other houses - 7, Bandaria Bagh (7 BB) allotted to Janeswar Mishra Trust where the youth army of Akhilesh is already strategising his campaign.

The changing tide is evident by the rush outside each bungalow - while Mulayam's residence invariably sees a handful of supporters, 5 KD and 7 BB usually abuzz with activity.

Amidst the crowds here are many candidates, who feature in either or both lists of the father and son - rather than knocking at doors in their constituencies, they are here hoping for that elusive compromise.

ET met Sharafat Yaar Khan, the Mulayam nominated candidate from Meerganj seat in Bareilly waiting outside Mulayam's residence on Wednesday. "I wish to tell him that how should I campaign? When I go to seek votes, people ask me questions first - what is happening in the party...who is getting the cycle?"

Khan says. Mulayam meets him briefly later at the party headquarters before leaving for Delhi. Here, Khan is accosted by Ramdev Nidar, the Akhilesh-nominated candidate from Koraon seat in Allahabad. "Akhilesh ke log diwane hain...aap bas jakar unke naam pe vote mangiye.

Yahan aane se kya hoga," Nidar is telling Khan as the latter speaks his mind about Netaji not being given the respect he deserves. Such heated debates are on in various parts of the lawns inside 19 VD.

A campaign cycle and a mini van stand parked here, virtually ignored and forgotten. The air of despondency has been hanging here all week. "Seats are won and lost by 5000-10000 votes. Netaji aur betaji alag alag ladenge to kya hoga...yehi soch kar ke to sab pareshan hain.

Tension hai," an ardent SP supporter here says on Friday while glued to live TV feed on his phone as both factions are fighting it out in the Election Commission in Delhi.

Outside 19, VD a dozen shop-keepers selling SP campaign material are equally dejected as sales have crashed with supporters unwilling to buy any material given confusion over which faction of the party will retain the cycle symbol. "Since morning,

I have not sold a thing...and elections are supposed to be peak season for us. I hope this mahabharat ends soon. I am worried what will i do with the flags, caps badges, keyrings and other stock with me of cycle symbol if the cycle is frozen," a dejected Deepu Aggrawal of Sheela Enterprises says.

There is more drama on Vikramaditya Marg too— like a self-proclaimed "senior SP worker" Arvind Shukla is sitting on a fast till there is no peace in the Yadav family. Some supporters don't hesitate to break out in a song or hectic sloganerring to capture the attention of TV cameras which are perpetually parked at VD and KD Marg. "We keep on moving our Outdoor Broadcast Van from 5, KD to 5, VD or 19, VD depending on where the action is," a TV journalist says, lamenting the long hours he has to put in even during the freezing nights here.

On Tuesday night, spotting journalists parked in the chill outside his house even at 11 pm, Mulayam had sent out a message requesting journalists to go home and assuring them he would speak only the next morning.