Azam Khan To Part Ways With Akhilesh? Speculations Grow Amid UP Govt's 'Relief' For SP Leader

Reports have suggested that the Yogi Adityanath-led government may be showing leniency towards Khan, who has been in jail for 16 months due to several cases lodged against him and his son.

File photo of SP leader Azam Khan.

Source : PTI

Speculations are rife of Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan's growing proximity with the Uttar Pradesh government. Azam Khan, who is currently lodged in Sitapur Jail, may soon make a significant political announcement. 

Reports have suggested that the Yogi Adityanath-led government may be showing leniency towards Khan, who has been in jail for 16 months due to several cases lodged against him and his son.

Recently the Supreme Court granted bail to both Mohammad Azam Khan and Abdullah Azam Khan in connection with the cleaning machine theft case.

Legal Troubles Easing For Azam Khan?

Azam Khan and his family members have over 100 legal cases registered against them since the Samajwadi Party government fell in 2017. Azam Khan, a prominent Samajwadi Party leader and a 10-time MLA from Rampur Sadar, was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in October 2022 after being found guilty in a 2019 hate speech case.

Sources have said that the prolonged legal battles against Khan and his family might end soon. Over the past few months, there have been signs of relief in multiple cases filed against them. 

Political insiders have claimed that the relationship between Khan and the state government has improved, leading to a noticeable slowdown in legal actions against him.

The shift reportedly began in December 2024 when Khan sent a letter from jail through Samajwadi Party (SP) district president Ajay Sagar, indirectly expressing his displeasure with the SP and its leader Akhilesh Yadav over the handling of the INDIA alliance. 

Shortly after, the state government took steps that suggested a possible softening of its stance.

Government’s Sudden Policy Shift

In December 2024, the Yogi government withdrew an investigative committee formed against a senior IAS officer and two IPS officers who were accused of shielding Khan in a legal case. 

This case revolved around enemy property linked to Khan’s Jauhar University, where allegations surfaced that he manipulated its status to convert it into waqf property.

During the investigation, Khan’s name was initially implicated, leading to the replacement of the investigating officer. The revised investigation, however, removed his name. While the state government had set up a high-level probe, the sudden withdrawal of this investigation has raised questions.

Signs Of A Political Realignment?

Sources have claimed the government's silence on the Jauhar University land dispute and the weakening of prosecution efforts in cases against Khan’s son, Abdullah Azam, are further indications of a possible agreement. The family has also secured bail in key cases, and Khan himself may soon walk free.

Abdullah Azam Khan, Samajwadi Party MLA from Rampur’s Suar constituency, was disqualified in February 2023 after being found guilty of using criminal force to deter a public servant.

Reports have also said that two senior state officials and two prominent BJP leaders have been instrumental in facilitating these developments. If these speculations materialise, it could have significant political ramifications, particularly for Akhilesh Yadav.

Azam Khan, who once hold prominence in the Samajwadi Party, found himself targeted after the BJP came to power in 2019. His fallout with former Rampur District Magistrate Anjaneya Kumar Singh allegedly led to a wave of legal troubles, resulting in multiple cases against him and his family.

However, in the middle of all this, the support from his party has appeared lukewarm, leading to speculation that even members of the Yadav family had 'tacitly allowed' the legal troubles to escalate. Earlier, when Azam Khan was expected to break ties with SP, Akhilesh Yadav sent his close aides to the Legislative Council and nominating senior advocate Kapil Sibal to the Rajya Sabha to handle Khan’s legal battles. However, this time, sources indicate Khan may take a different path and form his own political party.

BJP’s Political Strategy

The BJP sees potential gains in supporting Khan’s split from SP. If leaders like Azam Khan and Chandrashekhar Azad contest against Akhilesh's party in the 2027 elections, it could divide opposition votes and strengthen BJP’s chances of retaining power in Uttar Pradesh.

However, predicting Khan’s next move remains a challenge as he is known for his unpredictable political strategies. While insiders speculate on an imminent announcement, for now, Azam Khan remains the centre of political discussions in Uttar Pradesh.