The Samajwadi Party on Thursday said it would not put up any candidate for the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat in the 2014 general elections as a quid pro quo for the Congress not contesting from Kanauj in the recent by-elections.
"Congress had not put up a candidate in Kanauj against Akhilesh Yadav. And then again when Akilesh's wife (Dimple) contested from Kannauj, the Congress did not give a candidate. Then why should we put up a candidate? We will not contest in Rae Bareli," said party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Rae Bareli is represented by Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the Lok Sabha.
There is speculation that Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra could be the Congress nominee from Rae Bareli in 2014.
The constituency, earlier represented by late prime minister Indira Gandhi, is considered a pocket borough of the Gandhi family.