UP Elections: Akhilesh Yadav to contest from Karhal

New Delhi : Samajwadi leader Akhilesh Yadav is likely to contest the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections from the Karhal seat in Mainpuri district, said a report quoting sources.

The Karhal seat is believed to have stronghold of Yadavs. Karhal has voted for a Samajwadi Party candidate in every election since 1993, except for five years between 2002 and 2007, when the BJP flipped the seat. 

On Wednesday, Akhilesh Yadav had refused to confirm if he would be standing in the election from his Lok Sabha seat of Azamgarh.

"I will seek the permission of the people of Azamgarh if I decide to contest the elections. I need to seek their permission because they elected me from there," he said.

Meanwhile, Mulayam Singh Yadav’s daughter in law Aparna Yadav joined the rival party BJP just days ahead of the crucial polls. Several BJP leaders from politically key OBC groups had earlier resigned from the party to join hands with Samajwadi Party.

In November, Akhilesh Yadav had claimed that he will not be contesting the elections this time. 

Uttar Pradesh elections will be held in a seven phases, beginning from February 10, with results due exactly one month later.

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