UP Election 2022: After saying won't contest, Akhilesh Yadav says 'can't rule out'

Days after saying that he won't contest the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav seems te be having second thoughts.

Earlier this month in an interview to PTI, the former UP CM had ruled out contesting polls, but now in an interview to NDTV, Akhilesh seemed to leave the option open.

Akhilesh Yadav told NDTV on Wednesday that he would contest Assembly election only "if the party wants". On his part, the young leader maintained, the priority was to see the ruling BJP "wiped out".

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He added that his earlier statement on not contesting was "twisted".

Akhilesh Yadav, who held a massive rally on the newly-inaugurated Purvanchal Expressway in Eastern UP's Ghazipur, is an MP from Azamgarh currently. HE has not contested Assembly polls in the past.

Akhilesh has been engaged in a bitter war of words with the BJP over the new Purvanchal Expressway. He has accused the ruling party of credit stealing as the project was conceived and started during his regime.