Daijiworld Media Network - Rampur

Rampur, Oct 8: In a significant political development ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday met senior party leader Azam Khan at his residence in Rampur, calling him the "heartbeat of the party." The high-profile meeting is being viewed as a strong signal of reconciliation and renewed unity within the SP’s top ranks.

This marks Akhilesh Yadav's first visit to Azam Khan since the latter's release from prison after spending nearly 23 months behind bars in connection with multiple cases. The meeting took place at Khan’s residence inside the Jauhar University campus under heavy security.

Amid growing speculation about Azam Khan’s disillusionment with the party leadership, Akhilesh sought to dispel such notions and hailed Khan's loyalty and resilience. “Azam Khan is the heartbeat of the Samajwadi Party. He has faced false cases. The BJP has filed so many against him and his family that their names should be entered in the Guinness Book of World Records,” Akhilesh told reporters after the meeting.

Referring to the broader social coalition that SP aims to represent, Akhilesh added, “Under the BJP, the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, and Alpasankhyak) communities are being humiliated. The Samajwadi Party will fight for their justice. We will return to power in 2027 and continue to be their voice.”
When asked directly if he was feeling alienated from the party, Azam Khan dismissed the claim, responding, “Where did you get this information?” His brief reply, coupled with Akhilesh’s visit, appears to squash ongoing rumors of a rift between the two leaders.

Security was visibly tightened in Rampur during the visit. Police cordoned off areas around Jauhar University, restricted media movement, and ensured the premises were closely monitored. Nevertheless, a large number of SP workers gathered outside, chanting slogans in support of both Akhilesh and Azam Khan.

Political analysts see the reunion as a calculated move by the SP leadership to consolidate its Muslim support base in western Uttar Pradesh, especially in districts like Rampur, Moradabad, and Amroha — regions where Azam Khan continues to hold substantial sway.

Azam Khan, a founding member of the Samajwadi Party and a longtime confidant of the late Mulayam Singh Yadav, had been incarcerated in a slew of legal cases, many of which he and his party claim were politically motivated. His re-entry into the political spotlight, coupled with public support from Akhilesh, is being read as both a symbolic and strategic gesture ahead of the 2027 electoral battle.