Won't contest UP assembly polls next year, says SP chief Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav declared on Monday that he will not be contesting the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. Akhilesh Yadav is an MP from the Azamgarh seat and was pegged as his party's chief minister face. While the SP chief himself may not contest from an assembly seat, his party will be fighting the high-stakes election due early next year. In this regard, the SP is eyeing pre-poll alliances with regional parties. It has already sealed the deal with Om Prakash Rajbhar’s Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party.