The BRICS TimesReports suggest Akhilesh Yadav will meet Azam Khan on October 8, sixteen days after his release from jail. Once among the top leaders of the Samajwadi Party, Khan still holds influence that Akhilesh may need. How crucial is Azam Khan’s support for SP to retain Muslim votes in Uttar Pradesh politics?
Azam Khan’s Political Journey: From Influence to Uncertainty
Azam Khan once commanded massive sway over Muslim voters in Uttar Pradesh. During the 2012 SP government, his clout was often described as stronger than then Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. However, his political career is now tangled in legal troubles involving property grabs, corruption, and fraud. Though he secured bail after nearly two years, doubts remain whether his political life can revive. Interestingly, Akhilesh is set to meet him on October 8, a day before Mayawati’s rally on October 9, sparking speculation about Khan’s current loyalties.
Scheduled Meeting Between Akhilesh and Azam Khan
On October 8, Akhilesh Yadav will fly from Amausi Airport to Bareilly at 10 a.m. and then travel by road to Rampur. He is expected to meet Azam Khan for about an hour. Many wonder why the SP chief waited sixteen days to meet one of his former top leaders. Observers note the timing is deliberate, as Mayawati will address a rally on October 9. Reports claim Azam Khan’s wife met Mayawati earlier, which fueled rumors of his growing closeness with BSP. Akhilesh seems eager to counter such speculation, preventing any alliance between Mayawati and Khan that could alter political equations.
Strained Ties with SP Leadership
Those familiar with UP politics know Akhilesh Yadav’s coldness toward Khan is not new. Khan himself has hinted about this in sarcastic remarks. Yet when questioned about BSP, he remarked, “I may be foolish, but not that much.” This reflects his reluctance to openly side with Mayawati while keeping political options open.
Legal Troubles and Disqualification from Elections
Azam Khan faces over 100 criminal cases. In 2023, he was sentenced to seven years in a fake birth certificate case, followed by ten years in 2024 in a case related to forced eviction in Rampur. These convictions made him ineligible to contest elections for six years under the Representation of People Act, 1951. With parole and bail as his lifelines, his political activities remain restricted. He has already received ten convictions, with many more trials pending. Relying on him for major electoral gains appears uncertain for any party.
SP’s Strength Without Azam Khan
SP has already proven its strength without Khan’s backing. In the 2022 Rampur bypoll, BJP snatched the seat from SP’s candidate Asim Raja. Yet in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, SP reclaimed the seat through Mohibullah, once Khan’s critic. This demonstrated SP’s ability to win Rampur even without Khan’s influence. Under Akhilesh’s PDA formula (Backward, Dalit, Minority), SP won 37 seats in UP during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, cementing Akhilesh as the strongest Muslim leader in the state. Khan’s absence weakened him locally, but SP continued to rise.
Muslim Vote Consolidation Against BJP
The rise of BJP and Yogi Adityanath’s Hindutva politics changed Muslim voting behavior in UP. Muslims now prefer parties capable of defeating BJP rather than following individual leaders. Even AIMIM, once a strong contender in regions like Bihar’s Seemanchal, saw its support decline after the 2024 elections. Muslim voters increasingly rally behind SP and Congress as key BJP challengers. This consolidation reduces the political bargaining power of leaders like Azam Khan. Unless he aligns with anti-BJP parties, he risks fading relevance.
Health Issues Limiting Political Activity
Azam Khan’s long imprisonment worsened his health at age 77. He now suffers from heart disease, kidney infections, and age-related complications. On September 23, 2025, doctors advised him to rest, restricting his ability to hold rallies or public events. Once known for his fiery speeches that energized Muslim and Yadav voters, his weakened health makes a return to that active role nearly impossible.
