<p>Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday took a jibe at the BJP's decision to field Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from the Gorakhpur constituency, saying the saffron party has already sent him home.</p>.<p>Gorakhpur is the hometown of Adityanath. He had been the MP from Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat since 1998 until he became the chief minister in 2017.</p>.<p>Speaking to reporters here, the SP chief said, "As far as contesting elections is concerned, earlier it was said that he (Adityanath) will contest from Mathura, Prayagraj, Ayodhya or Deoband. I am happy that the BJP has already sent him home (Gorakhpur)”</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/election/uttar-pradesh/yogi-adityanath-to-contest-up-polls-from-gorakhpur-1071347.html" target="_blank">Yogi Adityanath to contest UP polls from Gorakhpur</a></strong></p>.<p>“Although he is in Gorakhpur, he had a ticket dated March 11 (counting of votes on March 10) booked for it earlier. I think that he should stay back in Gorakhpur and there is no need for him to return (to Lucknow). Heartiest congratulations," Yadav said.</p>.<p>The SP chief further said no MLAs or ministers quitting the BJP will be taken into his party anymore.</p>.<p>"I would tell the BJP that I am no longer going to take BJP MLAs or ministers (into SP), you can cut their tickets," he said.</p>.<p>However, he later said that a BJP leader will soon be joining the SP but did not reveal his name.</p>.<p>When asked about former Uttar Pradesh minister Dara Singh Chauhan, who recently quit the BJP, Yadav said that he will soon join the SP.</p>.<p>Former Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister and prominent OBC leader Swami Prasad Maurya on Friday joined the Samajwadi Party along with another rebel minister Dharam Singh Saini.</p>.<p>Five BJP MLAs and Apna Dal (Sonelal) legislator Amar Singh Chaudhary also joined the SP in the presence of Yadav.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/election/uttar-pradesh/exodus-impact-modi-may-replace-yogi-as-bjp-mascot-in-uttar-pradesh-1071122.html" target="_blank">Exodus impact: Modi may replace Yogi as BJP mascot in Uttar Pradesh</a></strong></p>.<p>Yadav's statements came after the BJP announced the names of 107 candidates for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and fielded Adityanath from the Gorakhpur (Urban) assembly constituency.</p>.<p>The party has named candidates for the seats going to polls in the first two phases.</p>.<p>The list was released by BJP's Uttar Pradesh in-charge and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan along with party general secretary Arun Singh during a press conference at the party's headquarters in Delhi.</p>.<p>Pradhan said Adityanath will be the BJP's candidate from Gorakhpur city and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya from Sirathu. Both are currently members of the state's legislative council.</p>.<p>Elections for the 403-member Uttar Pradesh assembly are scheduled to be held in seven phases starting from February 10. </p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>
<p>Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday took a jibe at the BJP's decision to field Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from the Gorakhpur constituency, saying the saffron party has already sent him home.</p>.<p>Gorakhpur is the hometown of Adityanath. He had been the MP from Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat since 1998 until he became the chief minister in 2017.</p>.<p>Speaking to reporters here, the SP chief said, "As far as contesting elections is concerned, earlier it was said that he (Adityanath) will contest from Mathura, Prayagraj, Ayodhya or Deoband. I am happy that the BJP has already sent him home (Gorakhpur)”</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/election/uttar-pradesh/yogi-adityanath-to-contest-up-polls-from-gorakhpur-1071347.html" target="_blank">Yogi Adityanath to contest UP polls from Gorakhpur</a></strong></p>.<p>“Although he is in Gorakhpur, he had a ticket dated March 11 (counting of votes on March 10) booked for it earlier. I think that he should stay back in Gorakhpur and there is no need for him to return (to Lucknow). Heartiest congratulations," Yadav said.</p>.<p>The SP chief further said no MLAs or ministers quitting the BJP will be taken into his party anymore.</p>.<p>"I would tell the BJP that I am no longer going to take BJP MLAs or ministers (into SP), you can cut their tickets," he said.</p>.<p>However, he later said that a BJP leader will soon be joining the SP but did not reveal his name.</p>.<p>When asked about former Uttar Pradesh minister Dara Singh Chauhan, who recently quit the BJP, Yadav said that he will soon join the SP.</p>.<p>Former Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister and prominent OBC leader Swami Prasad Maurya on Friday joined the Samajwadi Party along with another rebel minister Dharam Singh Saini.</p>.<p>Five BJP MLAs and Apna Dal (Sonelal) legislator Amar Singh Chaudhary also joined the SP in the presence of Yadav.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/election/uttar-pradesh/exodus-impact-modi-may-replace-yogi-as-bjp-mascot-in-uttar-pradesh-1071122.html" target="_blank">Exodus impact: Modi may replace Yogi as BJP mascot in Uttar Pradesh</a></strong></p>.<p>Yadav's statements came after the BJP announced the names of 107 candidates for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and fielded Adityanath from the Gorakhpur (Urban) assembly constituency.</p>.<p>The party has named candidates for the seats going to polls in the first two phases.</p>.<p>The list was released by BJP's Uttar Pradesh in-charge and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan along with party general secretary Arun Singh during a press conference at the party's headquarters in Delhi.</p>.<p>Pradhan said Adityanath will be the BJP's candidate from Gorakhpur city and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya from Sirathu. Both are currently members of the state's legislative council.</p>.<p>Elections for the 403-member Uttar Pradesh assembly are scheduled to be held in seven phases starting from February 10. </p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>