Yadav, who was elected to Lok Sabha from Mainpuri, is also an MLA from Bharthana Assembly constituency in Etawah district.

Yadav, however, refused to confirm it and said: “This issue is before me. I am yet to decide. I am meeting my colleagues and candidates who had contested the Lok Sabha polls and will then weigh my options. I will decide very soon.”

According to “Prohibition of simultaneous membership rules 1950” under Article 101, Section (I) of the Constitution, no person shall be a member of the Parliament as well as the state Legislature. The SP chief has to decide within 14 days or June 1 on whether to resign from the Assembly or Parliament.

In 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Yadav, who was then the chief minister of UP, had won from Mainpuri seat, but he opted out from the Parliament. His party had won 39 seats but was not included in the Congress-led UPA coalition. This time, too, in spite of having 23 MPs, the party wields no clout in the government formation since the Congress has sufficient numbers.

Sources in SP said this time Yadav will remain in the Parliament because his presence will help the party to regain national relevance.

Moreover, they said, this time most of the party’s MPs are making their debut in the Parliament and excluding Akhilesh Yadav and Reoti Raman Singh, no other member is competent to lead the party in the Lok Sabha.

Ram Gopal Yadav, leader of the SP in last Lok Sabha did not contest the polls this time. He is currently a member of the Rajya Sabha. Another senior leader Mohan Singh, however, failed to win from Deoria seat.

“With the debacle of Bahujan Samaj Party, Mayawati is no longer a challenge for us so the party feels it is desirable to focus on national politics and work on long term relationship with the Congress”, said a SP leader.

If Yadav decides to opt out of the state Assembly, then the party will have to find a replacement for the Leader of Opposition. The option of Azam Khan, the deputy leader of the SP in the Assembly has been ruled out after he openly revolted against the party leadership for joining hands with former BJP leader Kalyan Singh.

SP sources indicated that Shivpal Singh Yadav, state president of the party and younger brother of Mulayam Singh is likely to replace him as the Opposition leader.

Mulayam’s son Akhilesh has also to choose between Kannauj and Ferozabad. Akhilesh has won from both the seats.