Lucknow, Jan 10 (IANS): Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav met here on Tuesday in what informed sources said was a last-minute bid to buy peace in the party.

The 90-minute meeting, at Mulayam Singh's residence, came amid the serious prospects of the Election Commission freezing the party's election symbol 'cycle'.

While Mulayam Singh on Monday made a U-turn and declared that Akhilesh Yadav would be the Chief Minister if the party won the assembly polls, the Akhilesh camp is reportedly not convinced about the change of heart. 

A source close to the Chief Minister confirmed the "persisting mutual distrust" but expressed happiness they had met.

Political observers feel that by yielding some space to Akhilesh Yadav, Mulayam Singh was trying to isolate the Chief Minister by painting him as one who defied not only the party constitution but was greedy for power even if it meant tripping his ageing father.