File photo of Akhilesh Yadav with Rahul Gandhi during UP polls
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday clarified that the name of prime minister can only be decided after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In a clear indication that his party is not keen on backing Congress chief Rahul Gandhi as the PM face at the moment, the SP leader said that even though he has good relations with him, the Lok Sabha poll results will ultimately inform the decision on PM candidature.
"It will be decided after the elections (2019 LS polls), although we have very good relations with Congres party's national president (Rahul Gandhi)," Akhilesh Yadav said today during an event.
Suggesting that the political equation may potentially change after the general elections next year, Akhilesh said that the new numbers will decide who will be the prime minister. "Right now we are five (MPs in UP), add them and it makes seven. But these numbers cannot decide. If they can we are ready to make a decision today, the new numbers after elections will be decisive."
Akhilesh Yadav's statement comes two days after Rahul Gandhi told media that he was ready to become the prime minister if Congress party emerges as the single-largest party in the next Lok Sabha elections.
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