New Delhi: Preparations for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections 2027 have started. Before the elections, senior SP leader Azam Khan went to jail again. Now, on the demand of the ED, the court sent him to jail for 14 days in judicial custody on charges of alleged money laundering related to Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University. Azam Khan going to jail is being considered a big blow for SP.
His stature is considered big not only in the party but also in the politics of Western UP. Azam Khan has played an important role in tilting Muslim votes towards SP. According to experts on the politics of Western UP, Azam Khan standing on the platform with SP in the 2027 assembly elections can go a long way in uniting the Muslims. Therefore, SP will fight to oust Azam Khan.
Azam’s political stature
Senior SP leader Azam Khan once had a say in UP politics. He played a special role in mobilising Muslim voters towards the party. If Azam Khan remains in jail in the money laundering case, then Muslim leaders of other parties can accuse SP of not standing for them in the assembly elections.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has been continuously accusing SP of ignoring Azam. A few days ago, in a public meeting in Rampur, Owaisi had accused Akhilesh Yadav of not taking to the streets for Azam. Then SP chief Akhilesh Yadav himself met Azam Khan in Rampur jail.
Many political meanings were inferred from this meeting. Azam Khan remained in jail for most of the days during the BJP government, due to which there is sympathy towards him among the Muslim voters. In such a situation, SP would like to give the message of staying with Azam, so that the Muslim vote of the party stands firmly with him.
Azam Khan’s influence in Western UP
Azam Khan’s influence is considered very strong in Western UP. Azam Khan has a large number of supporters in Moradabad, Sambhal, Rampur, Amroha, Bijnor, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur. The population of Muslims is highest in all these districts in UP. SP has been finalising its tickets here as per its wishes. To keep the Muslim votes united, SP would never want to ignore Azam.
Taken into custody immediately upon release from jail
For context, senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan and his son, Abdullah Azam, had been granted bail by the Allahabad High Court in a case involving the possession of two PAN cards. No sooner had Azam Khan stepped out from behind the prison bars, barely getting a chance to breathe the open air, than he was immediately taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate. His son, Abdullah Azam, was released and managed to reach home.
