Lucknow

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said that he would contest assembly elections after taking permission from Azamgarh residents.

Yadav is currently a Lok Sabha MP from Azamgarh.

 "I will contest elections after taking permission from the people of Azamgarh," he said at a press conference.

The SP chief’s announcement came shortly after Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Wednesday took a swipe at Yadav saying that though the former Chief Minister claimed credit for several developmental works in the state he lacked the courage to fight the forthcoming assembly elections from these constituencies.

Elections for the 403 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 10. The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, and March 3 and 7 in seven phases.

The counting of votes will take place on March 10.