Azam Khan’s absence in Rampur casts shadow over election dynamics

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Rampur Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh finds itself in an unusual calm during this election season, noticeably missing the energetic presence of Samajwadi Party leader, Azam Khan. With Khan currently serving a seven-year sentence in Sitapur jail, along with his wife Tazeen Fatima and their son Abdullah Azam, who are also incarcerated, the electorate is grappling with a dilemma.

Accustomed to Khan’s formidable influence that shaped local politics for half a century, voters now weigh whether to embrace the SP’s new candidate or uphold allegiance to the entrenched stalwart.

The absence of any contender from the Khan family complicates matters further, leaving the SP to field Mohibullah Nadvi, a cleric from a mosque on Delhi’s Parliament Street, as their hopeful. Despite efforts by Khan’s confidant, Asim Raja, to vie for the seat under the SP banner, his nomination faced rejection during scrutiny.

This void in leadership stems from Khan’s previous victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, subsequently vacating the seat in 2022 upon securing the Rampur Sadar seat in state elections, only to see it slip to the BJP’s Ghanshyam Lodhi in a bypoll.

The SP had eyed Akhilesh Yadav, the party president, as a potential candidate in Rampur, given Khan’s absence, but such aspirations remain unfulfilled. Reflecting on the situation, District SP president Ajay Sagar expressed poignant sentiments, lamenting the absence of “mantri ji” (Azam Khan) and his family in the electoral arena.

Khan’s disqualification from the assembly due to a hate speech conviction further underscores the political upheaval in Rampur. Raja’s subsequent bid in Rampur Sadar met defeat at the hands of BJP’s Akash Saxena, highlighting the BJP’s growing influence in the region. The Bahujan Samaj Party adds another dimension to the electoral landscape, nominating Zeeshan Khan as its contender.

Rampur, comprising five assembly constituencies, predominantly leans towards the BJP, with only one seat under SP’s control. The electorate faces a pivotal decision as they navigate between SP’s new candidate and allegiance to the Khan legacy, with the BJP eyeing a potential takeover of Rampur, once regarded as the stronghold of the SP.

As the electorate approaches the polls scheduled for April 19, all eyes are on Rampur, awaiting the verdict that will be unveiled on June 4.

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KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow