India, Nov. 4 -- LUCKNOW Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday indicated that he might not contest the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, suggesting instead that he could take the oath as chief minister directly while serving as a Lok Sabha member - repeating the precedent he set in 2012.

Speaking to media persons during a day-long visit to Varanasi, Yadav invoked notions of political auspiciousness to explain his strategy. 'You tell us the seat, I will contest in Varanasi... I always thought Kashi people were religious and know the difference between 'shubh' (auspicious) and 'ashubh' (inauspicious)," he said. "I became CM when I did not contest an Assembly election; that is why I will do whatever is 'shubh' for me...