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Azam Khan to return to Samajwadi Party

LUCKNOW: While it is now certain that the expelled Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and the former Uttar Pradesh minister, Mohammad Azam Khan, will return to the party following Sunday's meeting in New Delhi between party president Mulayam Singh and four-member Mushawrat Council sub-committee, the modalities of his return would be finalized in Lucknow on November 27.

Though, Mr. Khan has agreed to come back to the SP, his return would be unconditional. The Rampur MLA did not display any interest in becoming the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, but wanted an honourable return and a “commitment” from Mr. Singh towards the welfare of Muslims.

The meeting was held in the backdrop of the Mushawarat Council approving Mr. Khan's return to the party.

“I don't want an important position, or the post of the Leader of Opposition, as is being widely speculated in the media,” Mr. Khan told TheHindu over the phone. Confirming the November 27 meeting, he said that there were no conditions for his return.

Mr. Khan said that the Sunday's meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. “A charter of demands related to the betterment and welfare of the Muslim community was presented by the council members to the SP president”, he added.

Included in the charter of demands was: initiating steps for the betterment of the Muslim society in the light of the Sachar Committee recommendations and taking back the properties belonging to Waqf from squatters and illegal occupants.

It was widely speculated that Mr. Khan's return would coincide with Mr. Singh's 72nd birthday on Monday, but Mr. Khan denied this possibility. He conveyed his advances wishes to Mr. Singh through the Mushawarat council. Mr. Khan's expected return would bring curtains on his political wilderness since his expulsion before the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

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