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Khan’s visit, coming amid the ongoing Bihar assembly elections, where he is named a star campaigner, holds significant political weight
Khan made emotional references to his ordeal, underscoring the political nature of his suffering. Image/X
Samajwadi Party veteran Azam Khan met with party president Akhilesh Yadav at his residence in Lucknow on Friday, a meeting both leaders quickly emphasised was crucial for reinforcing the party’s unity and political message in Uttar Pradesh. Khan, who was accompanied by his son and former MLA Abdullah Azam, described the interaction as being primarily intended to convey a powerful message of “resilience, justice, and change”.
The meeting, lasting roughly 30 to 45 minutes, marks the second major interaction between the two leaders in a month, effectively putting an end to recent speculations of a deep-seated rift following Khan’s release from jail. Khan, a founding member of the party and a key figure for the Muslim community vote, had spent nearly two years in prison on multiple charges, including land grabbing and intimidation.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Khan made emotional references to his ordeal, underscoring the political nature of his suffering. “The real intent of our meeting was to show that despite the oppression and historic injustice we faced, there still exist people whose endurance is stronger than stone or mountain,” Khan stated. He added that the discussion served to remind each other of those painful times so that “future generations remember that such injustice once took place”.
Akhilesh Yadav echoed the sentiment of solidarity, sharing an emotional post on X with photographs of the meeting: “Na jaane kitni yaadein sang le aaye, jab wo aaj hamare ghar par aaye! Ye jo mel-milaap hai, yahi hamari saanjhi virasat hai.” (He brought back countless memories when he came home today! This togetherness is our shared legacy). This statement is seen by analysts as a strategic move to affirm the party’s ideological roots and reassure its core voter base of continued unity.
Khan’s visit, coming amid the ongoing Bihar assembly elections, where he is named a star campaigner, holds significant political weight. By appearing alongside Yadav, Khan rejected speculation of switching parties and instead focused on the need for political change in Uttar Pradesh, stating, “I came to meet Akhilesh Yadav and to send a message through you that we stand for change.” The strategic reconciliation is viewed as a key move by the Samajwadi Party to strengthen its organisation ahead of future electoral battles.
Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He trawls X via …Read More
Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He trawls X via … Read More
November 07, 2025, 19:18 IST
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