Politics1 min read

'Azam the, Azam hain': Will the Khan factor help or haunt Akhilesh in 2027 polls?

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The Allahabad High Court initially suspended ten-year prison terms for Mohammad Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam in a dual PAN card case. Minutes after his release, the Enforcement Directorate arrested Khan regarding alleged fund diversion to Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, securing a 14-day judicial remand from a Ghaziabad court. While Akhilesh Yadav labels the action an anti-opposition conspiracy, the party must balance Khan's legal battles against political challenges from Asaduddin Owaisi ahead of the 2027 state elections.

Key points

  • Akhilesh Yadav publicly backed the veteran leader and accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata…: Akhilesh Yadav publicly backed the veteran leader and accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of orchestrating a political conspiracy against him.
  • Mohammad Azam Khan questioned whether authorities were repeatedly targeting him due to hi…: Mohammad Azam Khan questioned whether authorities were repeatedly targeting him due to his Muslim identity and his work building educational institutions.
  • The Samajwadi Party relies heavily on Khan to retain influence over Uttar Pradesh's Musli…: The Samajwadi Party relies heavily on Khan to retain influence over Uttar Pradesh's Muslim electorate, who make up roughly 19 percent of the population.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

The SP chief’s public show of support for the veteran leader comes amid questions over the Azam Khan family’s influence on the party’s prospects ahead of the 2027 elections.

NEW DELHI: "Azam the, Azam hain aur Azam rahenge" (Azam was, Azam is and Azam will remain).With that emphatic declaration, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav sought to end speculation about his equation with one of the party's tallest Muslim leaders. But the political reality surrounding Mohammad Azam Khan is far more complicated than the slogan suggests.Nine days after Akhilesh's October 22 visit to Azam at Rampur jail, the veteran leader walked out of prison with his son Abdullah Azam after the Allahabad high court granted them bail in the dual PAN card case. His freedom, however, lasted barely minutes. The Enforcement Directorate arrested him in a separate money-laundering case linked to Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, and a court subsequently remanded him to 14 days' judicial custody.The dramatic turn has put Akhilesh's declaration to the test. Once among the most powerful figures in the SP, Azam remains central to the party's political…

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