Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav conducted a high-profile visit to the Rampur district jail on Thursday to meet veteran party leader Azam Khan. Following the meeting, the SP chief publicly stated, “Azam they, Azam hain aur Azam rahenge,” which translates to “Azam was, is, and will remain,” serving as a clear message to Khan's supporters and the broader Muslim community that the party remains committed to him despite his ongoing legal challenges.
This visit comes at a politically sensitive time, with the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections scheduled for February 2027. Although Azam Khan has faced multiple convictions and remains incarcerated, his influence within the region is still a subject of intense political focus. Party insiders suggest the meeting was intended to solidify the party’s standing in the region and address concerns about the internal cohesion of the SP’s local faction in Rampur.
The timing of the visit is widely seen as a strategic move to manage the influence of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi. During a recent rally in Rampur, Owaisi accused the Samajwadi Party of neglecting the interests of Muslim voters while claiming that the party leadership only prioritizes those within its core support base. By visiting Khan, Akhilesh Yadav is attempting to consolidate the Muslim vote for the upcoming SP-Congress alliance and preempt any potential electoral damage from dissenting voices.
The political significance of the Rampur seat cannot be understated. Historically an SP stronghold, the district has seen a shift in power dynamics over recent years. Following the disqualification of Azam Khan and his son, Abdullah Azam, as MLAs due to criminal convictions, the party suffered losses in subsequent bypolls. The BJP and its allies have since made significant inroads, securing four out of five assembly seats in the district, though the SP did manage to win the Rampur Lok Sabha seat in 2024 without the active support of the Khan faction.
The legal status of both Azam Khan and his son remains a critical hurdle, as their current convictions currently prevent them from contesting the upcoming elections. While supporters and legal representatives have filed appeals seeking a stay on these convictions, uncertainty persists regarding whether they will be eligible to run as candidates in 2027. SP local leadership has noted that, organizationally, the party has yet to finalize candidates for the Rampur and Suar seats, leaving the decision-making process largely in the hands of the Khan family.
Some voices within the party remain cautious about the extent of the Khan family's potential impact on the 2027 results. One senior SP leader remarked that the party’s recent success in the Lok Sabha election demonstrated that voters are willing to support the party even without the explicit backing of the veteran leader’s followers. Nevertheless, SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary characterized the visit as an expression of an “emotional connection,” emphasizing that Khan remains a deeply respected figure within the party organization.
As the election cycle approaches, the Samajwadi Party faces the dual challenge of maintaining its traditional support base while navigating the legal complexities surrounding one of its most prominent founders. Whether this visit serves to effectively unify the party’s local ranks or if the internal fissures will persist remains to be seen in the coming months.
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