Refusing to endorse Congress chief Rahul Gandhi as prime ministerial candidate of grand alliance of Opposition parties for 2019 lok Sabha elections, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said that the PM will be decided after the elections. He however asserted that he was not in the race for the office.

The former UP Chief Minister said in lucknow on Tuesday that the 2019 lok Sabha poll will not be on the face of a particular leader but on the issues facing the country.

‘The sole aim of Samajwadi Party is to win maximum number of seats in the 2019 poll to ensure that a secular political front formed the  next Government in Delhi,’’ he said.

Replying to a query, Akhilesh said that he would be visiting Bangalore to attend the oath ceremony of Janata

Dala(S) — Congress coalition Government led by HD Kumaraswamy in Karnataka.

Asked as to when he would comply with the Supreme Court’s order and vacate the official bungalow, Akhilesh said, ‘I am looking for a rented house so that I can vacate the government bungalow in lucknow’s high-security zone.’’

‘There is no property registered in my name so I have sought two years from the Supreme Court to allow me to stay in the present address. I will build a home if the SC grants me the time requested. If i get a proper house before that, I will vacate the Government house,’’ said the SP president.

The remarks by the SP chief came in the wake of a SC directive after which the Yogi government issued notices to six former CMs including Mulayam and Akhilesh to vacate the Government bungalows within 15 days. The Apex court had observed that once a person vacated the office of CM, he was at par with the common people.