Buzz gets louder on Azam Khan’s ‘return’ to Samajwadi Party

After courting Raja Bhaiyya to make him the Rajput mascot of the party after the exit of Amar Singh,the Samajwadi Party plans to rope in its rebel Muslim leader Azam Khan,who was expelled from the party after the Lok Sabha polls last year.

“Azam Khan has held several rounds of consultations with Ram Gopal Yadav,Rajya Sabha MP and brother of SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. He is keen for ‘home-coming’ since there is no visible obstacle for him in joining the party,” said a SP leader. “He has not placed any pre-condition as his wishes have already been granted by the party with the expulsion of Amar Singh and Jayaprada. The party has already severed ties with Kalyan Singh,” he added.

Azam Khan,however,feigned ignorance. “There is no initiative from my side nor have I received any invitation from the SP,” said Khan,who was the leader of the Opposition in UP Assembly from May 2002 to August 2003.

SP spokesperson Rajendra Chowdhary refused to comment but said the issue is before the party.

Khan was expelled from the party for opposing Jayaprada,the SP candidate from Rampur who eventually won the Lok Sabha seat. Khan had also openly opposed any truck with Kalyan Singh.

SP sources,however,said the party leadership is in a dilemma over the issue,given the vehement opposition from its Muslim MLAs,particularly those from the western UP,against Khan’s re-induction.

Over a dozen Muslim MLAs led by the former UP Assembly Speaker Waqar Ahmed Shah had recently met party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to plead against the re-entry of Azam Khan.

SP sources said Shivpal Singh Yadav,younger brother of the SP chief and leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly,is also not happy about Khan’s possible return to the party.

During the previous SP regime (August 2003-May 2007),Khan was number two in the cabinet as per the protocol,but actual power was wielded by Shivpal.

“Our party is passing through a critical phase and at this juncture,we cannot afford to antagonise any section of the party. The leadership will have consider the reservations of our Muslim MLAs against the entry of Azam Khan,” said a senior SP leader.

“We are hosting a dinner here on February 15,where clerics,ulemas and other prominent leaders of the community have been invited. We will tell them about the malicious campaign against the SP over its past ties with Kalyan Singh. We are doing what was desired by Azam Khan. We will apprise the community leaders about the canard spread by leaders like Azam Khan against the party during the last Lok Sabha elections,” said Iqbal Mehmood,the SP MLA from Sambhal.

For nearly a year,Khan had repeatedly said that Mulayam should explain his ties with Kalyan and tender an unconditional apology to the Muslims.

“There were no principles or issues. It was an ego clash between Amar Singh and Azam Khan,who he wanted to be known as the number two in the party. Khan vandalised the party for his narrow ends during the last Lok Sabha polls. So there is no justification in taking back such a person,” said Shahid Manzoor,former minister and MLA from Kithore (Meerut),who has been the most vocal critic of Azam Khan.