Azam Khan returns to Samajwadi Party today

Azam Khan, former minister and once Samajwadi Party’s (SP’s) Muslim face, is set to return to the party on Monday, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s birthday. Azam, a founder-member of SP, was expelled for six years for “anti-party” activities in May 2009, soon after the Lok Sabha election. The expulsion was revoked earlier this month.

“He [Azam] was never expelled… he had never really left us,” Mulayam told reporters in Delhi on Sunday.

“I will do whatever the mashwarati committee tells me to,” Azam told reporters. He had asked the committee, an advisory council comprising Muslim elders and clerics, to decide whether he should return to SP.

Sources said the decision was made after Azam had a secret meeting with Mulayam in Delhi. However, this could not be confirmed.

Sources said Azam had been promised a top post in the party organisation, which could be that of a national secretary or leader of opposition in the Uttar Pradesh (UP) assembly.

However, Mulayam said there was no deal. “We are old friends… like brothers… Azam Khan is one of the people who started the party. We don’t need to make any deals… we only have to decide when and how to start working together,” he said.

Azam had parted ways with Mulayam primarily due to the prominence Amar Singh was getting in party affairs. He also revolted against Mulayam’s decision to join hands with BJP rebel Kalyan Singh, who was UP chief minister in 1992 when the disputed structure in Ayodhya was razed.